Since July 2021, Cassandra Lichnock has served as the first female chief executive officer of the California State Teachers’ Retirement System. CalSTRS provides secure retirements to more than 1 million public school educators and their beneficiaries. Established in 1913, CalSTRS is the largest educator-only pension fund in the world with $352.9 billion in assets under management as of January 31, 2025. She joined CalSTRS in 2008 and, as CEO, builds and executes strategy, delivers on operational excellence, and maintains a strong relationship with the Teachers’ Retirement Board. She continues to lead organizational efforts to modernize CalSTRS systems and processes, build on the pension fund’s commitments to sustainability and diversity, and focus on evolving CalSTRS’ culture as the organization plans for a post-pandemic future.