Stetson University

Stetson University

Stetson University was established in 1883 as DeLand Academy and remains Florida's oldest private college. The endowment supports undergraduate and graduate programs across the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Business Administration, School of Music, and College of Law. Roland and Sarah George established the core investment education program in 1988. The endowment deploys capital through direct co-investments, fund-of-funds exposure, and philanthropic vehicles. Confirmed public positions include PayPal Holdings and Geely Automobile Holdings. Private holdings through the Hatter Angel Investment Program include Grocery Shopii, Streann Media, and Spectrex. Geographic reach centers on North America with additional activity in Western Volusia County and national real-estate holdings via a commingled fund. The endowment size stands at $390.5 million. Three external advisors manage portions of the portfolio: David Vaughan Investments, Mattson Wealth Management, and AssuredPartners Investment Advisors. Additional offices operate in Gulfport and Tampa. In March 2024 the Roland George Investments Program placed first in the fixed-income category at the Quinnipiac G.A.M.E. Forum. The university maintains a distinct student-led allocation process inside the Roland George Investments Program that sits alongside professional oversight from external advisors. This hybrid model creates a documented pipeline from classroom analysis to actual portfolio decisions while the endowment itself remains governed by the university's board.