The University of Dayton’s Davis Center for Portfolio Management is again home to the nation’s largest student-run investment fund.
The distinction reflects not only the size of the fund, but the discipline, collaboration and values behind every investment decision.
The Davis Center has $85.5 million from the University endowment and The Dayton Foundation under management, according to the Center for Investment Research’s 2025 rankings, more than $30 million ahead of the next closest university.
“Part of the reason our performance is so strong is the culture of hard work that comes with trying to hold that position,” said senior manager Andrew Kohnen, an incoming investment banking analyst at Rothschild & Co.
Students buy, hold and sell stocks based on deep research into companies’ earnings reports, debt and industry trends — gaining the kind of real-world experience few undergraduates can match. Their investment strategy also aligns with UD’s Marianist values, including following input from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
“It’s a really cool aspect of the culture. I’m glad we have those guidelines so we can come together as a school and learn that way,” Kohnen said.
“It roots us all in one purpose,” said analyst Haylee Foerster, who will join Goldman Sachs after graduation.
Even with those self-imposed limits on where to invest, the team regularly outperforms professional money managers. Students say the Davis Center’s impact goes beyond technical investing skills.
“The writing skills, the presentation skills and the relational skills you get from having to talk about complex topics — I owe a lot to the Davis Center,” Foerster said.
Students also point to the Davis Center’s culture of mentorship, where upperclassmen help younger students build confidence, sharpen their analysis, and prepare for internships and careers. That support continues after graduation through an alumni network of more than 750 professionals at firms including BlackRock, Blackstone, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley and William Blair.
“We become better as a fund when we have collaborative teams and real friendships,” Kohnen said. “That culture makes all of us stronger.”