Howard S. Marks, W’67

The Howard Marks Professorship in Economic History was established in 2012 by Howard S. Marks, W’67, and his wife, Nancy. Howard Marks has spent his career in finance. He is the co-founder and co-chair of Oaktree Capital Management, LLC. As Chair of the University Trustee’s Investment Board from 2000 to 2010—a decade bookended by major financial crises—he avoided the market’s excesses and grew the endowment from $3.2 billion to $5.9 billion, receiving national recognition for his management. He is the author of two books: The Most Important Thing Illuminated: Uncommon Sense for the Thoughtful Investor, published in 2011, and Mastering the Market Cycle: Getting the Odds on Your Side, published in 2018. Marks is also widely admired in the investment community for his memos, which detail his investment strategies and insight into the economy.

Howard and Nancy Marks’ other Penn philanthropy includes the Marks Family Center for Excellence in Writing, the Howard Marks University Professorship, the Howard Marks Investor Speaker Series at Wharton, and endowed scholarship support for undergraduates. He’s a frequent guest lecturer on campus. Howard Marks is an emeritus trustee of the University of Pennsylvania.