Nicholas Smirensky

Mr. Smirensky serves as the New York State Comptroller’s appointee to the NYSTRS Board. He chairs the Investment Committee and serves on the Compensation, Executive, and Risk committees.

He was most recently the chief investment officer of the New York State Health Foundation, where he was responsible for managing the Foundation’s investment portfolio and developing its investment strategy. Prior to joining the Foundation, Mr. Smirensky was deputy chief investment officer and director of private equity with the New York State Common Retirement Fund. He previously served as director of New York’s College Savings Program. Mr. Smirensky holds the Chartered Financial Analyst designation, a BA degree from Columbia College, and a MA degree from Columbia University. Mr. Smirensky is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, and was an adjunct faculty member of Columbia-Greene Community College, where he taught business classes for Hudson Link for Higher Education. He previously served as an Adjunct Professor at Union College’s Graduate School of Management. Mr. Smirensky is also Treasurer and a board member of the National Health Law Program.