Todd Houge (MBA94/PhD98)
"After 27 years of teaching at the University of Iowa, I have decided to retire. This was certainly not an easy decision, but it is something I have been contemplating for a while.
My wife and I plan to remain in the Iowa City area, and we are looking forward to many outdoor adventures while we are still (relatively) young and healthy.
I first arrived on campus in 1992 as a student in the full-time MBA program, and in the spring of 1994, I was a member of the very first Henry Fund analyst team. I also served as a teaching assistant to the fund’s advisor during my doctoral studies.
A year after completing my Ph.D., I was assigned to lead the Henry Fund and Krause Fund programs in the fall of 1999. Thus, it could be said that the student-managed investment funds have been a central part of nearly my entire career at the Tippie College of Business.
I watched our initial Henry Fund portfolio grow from $50,000 in 1994 to over $29 million today, ranking it as the 5th largest student-managed investment fund in the U.S. The Henry Fund now distributes over $1.2 million annually and $4.9 million over the past five years to support student scholarships and campus programs. Likewise, our Krause Fund portfolio has grown from $100,000 in 1998 to over $1 million today.
Throughout my career, I was fortunate and honored to have led so many hard-working, highly motivated, and talented students (over 3,000 by my count). Henry Fund and Krause Fund alums know these programs require an extraordinary amount of effort and personal sacrifice.
Watching students develop and flourish across their careers was by far the most rewarding aspect of my role.
I will truly miss these daily interactions, conversations, and discussions of the latest economic or company news.
My colleague Dennis Hamilton will serve as the academic advisor to the Henry Fund and Krause Fund portfolios moving forward, and I am confident the program will be in great hands. We are working to make this transition as smooth as possible, while also keeping the core structure of the program intact. We share a common vision that emphasizes company forecasting, industry research, valuation modeling, and communication skills to provide our students with a strong foundation for career success.
No matter where the future takes us, I hope we have an opportunity to remain in touch.”
From his students:
Lucas Wear (BBA04)
Executive Director & Assistant Treasurer, TriNet
"I still draw upon the lessons (and even some of the materials) from your class when I serve as a mentor for students each year in the CFA Investment Research Challenge. Thank you for all of your hard work, dedication, & patience. I hope you enjoy your retirement!”
Trevor Dursky (MBA19)
Vice President, Prairie Capital Advisors
“Congratulations Todd Houge! Thank you for your commitment to your students over the years. I’m in the same camp as so many others who place their participation in the Henry Fund as their keystone academic experience. It’s not hyperbole to say you changed the trajectory of my life. Wishing you the very best in retirement!"
Lauren Hanley (BBA08)
Managing Director, BMO Capital Markets
“Congratulations, Todd! 27 years is a great accomplishment. I remember your class fondly in the Fall of 2008, particularly as we got to watch and discuss the GFC events occurring in real time."
Yulia Ivanova (MBA09/PhD15)
Quantitative Senior Principal, Promontory Financial Group, an IBM Company
“Congratulations!!! The fund had you as one of its best assets! Hope your next chapter is amazing and fulfilling.”
Adam Hauser (BBA00)
Vice President of Finance, Siete Family Foods
“Congrats Todd. You were an awesome professor, and I still remember the heater CVS pharmacy went on after my team recco’d it WAY back in the day. Enjoy retirement.”
Did you know . . .
When Professor Houge wasn’t overseeing the Henry and Krause Funds, he was winning teaching awards—and training for marathons? In fact, he’s even ranked sixth-best marathon runner in the country for his age group!
Yash Diwate (MS24)
Senior Financial Analyst, UNC Health
“Congratulations Todd! I feel incredibly lucky and so grateful to have gotten to learn from you. You’ve helped shape so much more than those ninja like Excel skills! Thank you for passing along your humility and work ethic down to 3000 of us. Happy Retirement!”
Brad Badertscher (MBA01/PhD07)
Deloitte Foundation Department Chair of Accountancy, University of Notre Dame
“Great work Todd. I was fortunate to be one of your 3,000 students! Well done and you set the bar for all to follow. God bless.”
Alex Boyce (BBA05)
Head of Capital Solutions, Stifel Europe
“Congrats Todd! Your Securities Analysis class was literally the catalyst that I most credit to helping start my investment banking career. It was such a pleasure years later to speak to your classes when you came over to the UK. Glad to see your legacy continuing and all the best for your much deserved down time. Cheers from London!”
Wesley Harrington (MBA11)
Managing Director, Bank of America
“It is hard for me to imagine Tippie without Todd Houge. While your absence will be felt, what you have imparted both to your students and to the institution we all love is an incredible legacy. Thank you Todd and I wish you the best as you turn the page to new adventures.”
Kate Brennan (BBA02)
Business Lead, Stripe
“Your class changed my life. Both in the friendships I made and the way you opened my eyes to the fun of finance. Thank you for being an excellent teacher.”
Jasen Dahm (BBA08/MAc09)
Managing Director, TAG Advisors
“Congrats Todd - Thanks for helping me get started when I moved back to Iowa...not sure where my career would have been without you. Oh captain, my captain!”
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This article appeared in the 2026 issue of Exchange magazine.