FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 18, 2026
Teacher Retirement System of Texas Welcomes Two New Board Trustees Following Appointments by Governor Abbott
Outgoing Trustees Ball, Corpus to Be Recognized at a Future Meeting
AUSTIN – Two new members will join the Board of Trustees (Board) for the Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) at July’s regular public meeting following their appointments by Governor Greg Abbott.
- Pete Pape, Ed.D. of Leander, is the chief financial officer of Eanes Independent School District. He is a Texas Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Texas Association of School Business Officials, Government Finance Officers Association, and the TRS Retirees Advisory Committee. Dr. Pape will replace Michael Ball as a new appointee.
- Dan West, of Houston, is an investor at SCF Partners. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and its Oil, Gas, and Energy Resources Law Section. Additionally, he is Board Chairman of Brillante Academy, and Board member of the Sam Houston Area Council of Scouting America. Mr. West will replace David Corpus as a new appointee.
Both trustees will serve terms set to expire August 31, 2031.
“We are pleased to welcome these new trustees to the TRS Board,” said TRS Executive Director Brian Guthrie. “Their experience and perspective will support our ongoing mission to serve active public education employees and retirees across Texas. We look forward to their expertise as we continue managing one of the largest public pension systems in the United States, providing retirement and healthcare benefits to more than two million members.”
Pape is appointed to serve on the TRS board by the governor from the three public school district active member candidates nominated in 2025 by employees of public school districts. West is appointed by the governor from nominations submitted by the State Board of Education.
The Board of Trustees serves as TRS’ trustee of all plan assets and is responsible for the general administration and operation of the system. The board is composed of nine appointed members, who serve staggered terms of six years.
The appointments follow the conclusion of service for Trustees Michael Ball and David Corpus. Ball, appointed to the board in 2019 most recently served as vice chair of the board. Corpus was first appointed to the TRS Board in 2013 by Governor Rick Perry and reappointed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2019 from nominations submitted by the State Board of Education, he recently led TRS’ Investment Management Committee.
“Trustees Ball and Corpus have provided dedicated service to TRS and the public education employees and retirees of Texas,” said Board Chair Robert H. Walls, Jr. “We appreciate their commitment and significant contributions to the system over the course of their terms.”
Additional recognition for their service is set to take place at a future TRS Board meeting.
The recent appointments are not related to the current open nomination period for a Public School District Employee position on the TRS Board of Trustees. The nomination period runs from June 1, 2026, to January 25, 2027, with the upcoming term beginning as early as September 1, 2027, to August 31, 2033.
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS) is one of the largest retirement systems in the nation. The system's core mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of Texas educators by prudently investing and managing trust assets and delivering member benefits. As of August 31, 2025, TRS pension fund had a market value of $225.3 billion.