Julie Donegan was promoted to real estate investment director at the $321 billion  California State Teachers’ Retirement System, having recently served as its interim after Mike DiRè became CalSTRS’ senior investment director of private markets. She will be the first woman in the role. Donegan’s responsibilities are to provide real estate investment expertise to CalSTRS staff and the Teachers’ Retirement Board; including executing on the board’s Real Estate Investment Policy; and being its representative on advisory boards, industry governance councils, roundtables and industry-wide forums, and as a member of CalSTRS’ senior leadership team. Since joining CalSTRS as a real estate portfolio manager in 2019, she’s had a recent focus on residential assets, oversaw Fairfield (CalSTRS’ largest real estate operating partner); played a lead role in a key affordable housing investment in California; and participated on internal net zero and diversity, equity and inclusion teams, according to a CalSTRS press release.  DiRè noted, “Her experience working in the public and private sectors along with her collaborative personality give Julie the ability to manage CalSTRS’ unique portfolio of investments and investment managers through the current challenging market environment and into the future. In addition, Julie’s passion for diversity, equity and inclusion and sustainable investing keeps Real Estate aligned with the Teachers’ Retirement Board and its goals.”   Before joining CalSTRS, Donegan worked 15 years in the private sector, most recently as a senior vice president for Franklin Templeton in Sacramento and has been active in the Pension Real Estate Association, Urban Land Institute and Commercial Real Estate Women. “I am honored to serve in this role,” Donegan said. “I look forward to building upon the foundation of success established by Mike DiRè over the past two decades. Our Real Estate team is well positioned to navigate market challenges and opportunities to meet the needs of California’s public educators and help secure their retirement.”