Awards and Recognition
Innovation and insight worth celebrating
IMD Awards and Recognition
2026
Private Equity Real Estate (PERE): Institutional Investor of the Year – North America
The TRS’ Real Estate (RE) team was honored by PERE magazine for its continued focus in 2025 on strategic investments in the residential real estate sector. The publication noted that TRS “has a strong conviction in manufactured and student housing” further diversifying this niche portfolio. PERE has previously honored TRS’ RE team three times in 2011 and 2018 and 2021. The RE team is focused on all property types including office, multi-family, retail, and industrial and participates in both debt and equity investments. Real Estate makes up about 15% of the overall pension trust fund’s allocation. Grant Walker, pictured, heads TRS’ Real Estate team and joined the pension system in 2007.
Grant Walker
Awards and Recognition
Innovation and insight worth celebrating
2025
MarketsGroup.com: 2025 Elite Private Equity Allocators
Scott Ramsower was recognized as a leading institutional investor shaping the future of private equity. The recognition from Markets Group.com honors individuals who demonstrate vision, rigor, and long-term perspective in navigating a complex and competitive private markets environment. Scott joined TRS in 2010 and today leads the private equity funds team, managing a roughly $24 billion net asset value portfolio. Scott is also chair of the board of directors at the Institutional Limited Partners Association.
Scott Ramsower, BBA
2024
Institutional Investor: AlphaEdge Recognition Awards, Most Influential Women in Investment Management
Ashley Baum was among 14 women investment professionals honored at Institutional Investor's annual AlphaEdge Recognition Awards. The honorees represent a diverse spectrum of expertise and innovation within the industry. Their visionary approaches and strategic acumen have significantly influenced the landscape of portfolio construction, setting new standards of excellence, according to the industry publication. Baum, a 16-year veteran of TRS’ Investment Management Division, heads the Special Opportunities portfolio. Under Baum’s leadership TRS’ Special Opportunities team has capitalized on niche investments trust wide for more than a decade. Baum holds an MPA, Audit and a BBA Business Honors & Accounting, both from the University of Texas at Austin. Baum is also a CFA Charter holder and CPA.
Ashley Baum, CFA, CPA
Head of Special Opportunities
2023
withintelligence.com:
Idea of the Year
Steven Wilson was honored with a 2023 “Allocator Prizes” award from digital publication withintelligence.com for TRS’ creative and effective Pitch Perfect competition. The 10 year-old annual contest offers a chance to up-and-coming Texas investment talent to pitch their best ideas to the wider Texas investment community. The panel was most recently held in March at the Texas Alternative Investment Association’s annual conference in Austin. In addition to highlighting statewide talent, the contest has helped generate ideas for TRS’ investment program, with the inaugural winner from 2014 just receiving an allocation from the pension system. Wilson, a director on TRS’ Public Markets Team is responsible for the Stable Value Hedge Fund and APM World Portfolios. Wilson holds a BBA in Finance from UT Austin, an MBA from Rice University, and the CAIA designation.
Steven Wilson, MBA
Public Markets
Institutional Investor:
2023 Partnership of the Year
The Teacher Retirement System of Texas was recognized with a Partnership of the Year honor for our 15-year-old Strategic Partnership Network (SPN) Program that has generated $1.3 billion in excess returns for the portfolio. The recognition of the successful long-term collaboration was part of Institutional Investor's annual Allocators' Choice Awards. TRS' SPN program is directed by Jean-Benoit Daumerie (pictured at left), a 12-year TRS veteran in the pension's Public Markets group. Daumerie received the award on behalf of the Investment Management Division.
Jean-Benoit Daumerie
Public Markets
2021
Institutional Investor:
2021 Rising Star Award
Steven Wilson was named a 2021 Rising Star as part of Institutional Investor’s annual Allocators’ Choice Awards. Wilson, a director on TRS’ Public Markets Team is responsible for the Stable Value Hedge Fund and APM World Portfolios. The II award was based on his work to support TRS’ improved ability to evaluate investments and improve portfolio construction. Wilson, who joined TRS in 2012 has also led some of the fund's most “innovative allocations” within hedge fund and beta one portfolios. In addition to overseeing $15 billion in outperforming assets at TRS, Wilson mentors junior staffers and is on the Managed Funds Association’s advisory council. Wilson holds a BBA in Finance from UT Austin, an MBA from Rice University, and the CAIA designation.
Steven Wilson, MBA
Public Markets