Hanley Center for ESG Investing

The Hanley Sustainability Fund (HSF) is a student-managed equity portfolio at the University of Dayton. HSF provides students with a unique, hands-on learning opportunity by allowing members to apply concepts learned in the classroom to a real-world experience.

The Fund's goal is to outperform the overall stock market while investing in companies that are embracing an environmentally conscious or resource-efficient business model. Through investing in these companies, we can do our part to empower companies that are moving away from the use of fossil fuels and/or discovering and facilitating the use of more sustainable methods of producing power and energy.

How We Bridge Sustainability and Business: Our Philosophy

Our core philosophy is simple: understanding a company's impact on the world helps us make smarter investments. Here's how we do it:

• Deep-Dive ESG Analysis: Before we invest, our sustainability team creates a detailed environmental, social, and governance (ESG) report for each potential company. We're researchers and analysts, digging into a mix of professional reports, company statements, and trusted third-party ratings (like Bloomberg and Sustainalytics). Why so many sources? Because we want to cut through "greenwashing" – companies that sound sustainable but aren't. We aim to truly understand a company's environmental footprint, social impact, and how well it's managed.

The Hanley Sustainability Fund (HSF) is looking for sharp, driven students to join the team! Sophomores and Juniors can apply in the fall semester and first-year students can apply as early as the spring semester. The Hanley Center invites students from all majors to apply; no previous financial knowledge is required. 

The recruitment process begins with an exciting week of events. Students can meet current members, dive into different sectors, and experience HSF's culture firsthand. After that, applications open. Our process includes a first-round interview and a second-round stock pitch with follow-up QA sessions. Hanley will provide applicants with a company and resources, giving you the perfect opportunity to showcase your analytical skills.

Joining HSF is a highly rewarding experience that provides hands-on investment experience and a supportive community to help students deepen their skills.

As early as a second-semester sophomore, members are allowed to be selected for leadership positions on one of six student teams within the Fund. 

Student Teams and Members

• Management Team: Maintains the overall health and culture of the Hanley Trading Center and the Hanley Sustainability Fund. New managers are selected annually from within HSF by election from prior managers and the fund’s current full-time members. 
• Securities Analysis Team: Act upon a variety of strategies for financial analysis, including qualitative research and financial modeling. Lead Analysts will send out end-of-month updates regarding performance and updates to any strategies moving forward for their sector. All analysts produce earnings updates every quarter reflecting a bullish or bearish outlook on the sector and our current investments in correspondence to the original investment thesis. Analysts with their sector team are required to pitch at least once a semester and vote on weekly pitches. 
• Economic Analysis Team: Provide a top-down view of the markets for the securities analysis team. Team members monitor economic indicators and relevant current events to assist in creating an economic outlook for every sector as well as specific industry viewpoints for weekly equity pitches.
• Sustainability Reporting Team: Responsible for all sustainability analytics for the fund as they determine the ways in which to evaluate and rank corporate social responsibility. Under Hanley's sustainability values, team members incorporate their metric valuations with the mindset of climate action, agriculture insecurity, water preservation, and renewable energy solutions. The team also works directly with the Hanley Sustainability Institute, which makes these members uniquely qualified to discuss and score the sustainability of large corporations.
• Model Development Team: Improve on the existing quantitative model through actual development of the code behind the model or analysis of collected data on the model. Due to the technical nature of the model, members of this teamwork on the Python backtest that drive the model and contribute through data collection and analysis for new ideas or avenues to explore in the model’s development.
• Junior Analysts: HSF’s new member program and training; includes three meetings each week for eight weeks during the fall semester. The program, led by the Head of Development, covers topics related to the Fund, including investment strategies, asset classes, financial statements, ratio analysis, economic and technical indicators, Microsoft Excel training, professionalism, and interview preparedness. Junior Analysts will also take part in a Valuation Education Program, which consists of an in-depth analysis of the financial statements, building out a Revenue Projections Model, a Discounted Cash Flow Model, and a Public Company Comparison Model. Each Junior Analyst will become FactSet certified and trained to use the Bloomberg Terminals. Each Junior Analyst will be assigned to teams of their interest to begin contributing where best fit to succeed in the fund. The conclusion of the program results in the presentation of a full equity pitch to the full fund where groups of three Junior Analysts will present a potential investment to the fund that will be critiqued and showcase the culmination of their learning.

In the Words of Our Alumni

• "Hanley was the most impactful experience of my time at college. It provided the toolbox for me to build the skills I use in my career everyday and the freedom to learn how to invest sustainably with a critical eye and unique perspective. It also gave me a group of friends that made my UD experience that much better." — Michael Francis '21 (member from 2018-21)
• "The Hanley Center is a fantastic opportunity for students to gain hands-on experience in the world of sustainable investing. During my time in the Center, I learned many technical and soft skills that have made me a better professional as I was preparing to enter the workforce. What I think sets the Hanley Center apart from other learning opportunities is the hands-on, supportive, team environment that allowed me to become the professional I am today." — Christopher O'Donnell '25 (member from 2022-25)

Management Team

• Sean Kuhn, Managing Director
• Mason Chunuk, Director of Investments
• Quinn McCabe, Head of Sustainability
• Connor Loftus, Head of Economics
• Jack Tavares, Sector Head - Consumers
• Colin Schnitter, Sector Head - Technology & Communications
• Collin Grady, Sector Head - Financials
• Natalie Brangers, Sector Head - Health Care
• Andrew Farkas, Director of Financial Operations
• Ethan Estes, Sector Head - Energy, Materials, and Industrials
• Juli Lukambo, Head of Quantitative Analysis

Student Team Members

The Fund provides endless opportunities for internships and full-time placements with guidance from our prestigious alumni network. By integrating academic theory with real-world investment skills, the Fund strives to create an experiential learning environment that fosters both personal and professional development, which produces well-rounded individuals for today's competitive markets.

Hanley Center students also have the opportunity to connect and receive expertise guidance from the Hanley Advisory Council.

• Dr. Jon Fulkerson (Chair, Department of Economics & Finance, University of Dayton School of Business)
• Dr. Maria Vivero (Associate Professor of Finance, University of Dayton School of Business)
• Dr. Edwin Zen (Assistant Professor of Finance, University of Dayton School of Business)
• Todd Wenning, CFA (Lecturer of Finance, Director of Hanley Center for ESG Investing, University of Dayton School of Business)
• A.J. Conway (SOFR Trader, BlackEdge Capital)
• Michael Francis (Equity Research Associate, William Blair)
• Adam Fleck, CFA (Head of ESG Research, Morningstar Sustainalytics)
• Leah Foxx (VP Responsible Investing Analyst, 1919 Investment Counsel)
• Casey Fuller (Investment Banking Analyst, Lincoln International)
• Maya Peterson (Research Associate, VELA Investment Management)

The Hanley Center for ESG Funding offers students the space and technology they need to research, practice pitches and collaborate for the fund's success. Schedule an academic visit with the School of Business Administration today.