CalSTRS Names New General Counsel.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Kathleen Andleman has been named General Counsel of the California State Teachers' Retirement System. She will begin work at the nation's second-largest public pension fund on April 2.

Andleman will provide operational and executive leadership at CalSTRS while serving as the chief legal advisor to the Teachers' Retirement Board, the pension fund's governing body. In addition to guiding the fund's legal services team, she will be responsible for its audit, contract, compliance, community property and information security areas.

"Kathleen stood out as an exceptional candidate in a field of talented and accomplished attorneys," said Jack Ehnes, CalSTRS chief executive officer. "Her background in business and finance law are an excellent match for our public-sector financial services organization. She is well-versed in handling complex financial issues and has considerable strength working with high-profile boards."

"Every one of us can look back and thank at least one special teacher who helped us prepare for life and career," said Andleman. "I certainly wouldn't be here today if not for the dedication and hard work of the teachers who helped me along the way.

"I welcome this opportunity to work with the Teachers' Retirement Board and CalSTRS' exceptional leadership. Everyone in the organization is dedicated to helping today's teachers have a more secure financial future."

CalSTRS provides retirement, disability and survivor benefits to California's nearly 800,000 public school educators and their families. Its investment portfolio currently exceeds $159 billion.

Andleman is former Chief Counsel of the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board. As a member of the executive staff, she developed and implemented policies to assist victims of violent crime as well as individuals and businesses who file claims against state agencies.

Before moving to the board in 2005, Andleman spent more than 12 years as an attorney for the California Franchise Tax Board. Her experience at FTB ranged from handling complex multistate and multinational corporate tax issues to managing the department's General Counsel section.

Andleman worked in private legal practice for nearly 10 years before entering state service, with an emphasis on business litigation. She graduated from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and earned a bachelor's degree in history from the University of California, Irvine.

Andleman succeeds former General Counsel Chris Waddell. Waddell left CalSTRS in October to serve as General Counsel for the San Diego City Employees' Retirement System.