Staff

Genette Bacon-Cordova

Portfolio Officer for Financial Reporting and Accounting
Genette Bacon-Cordova serves as the Portfolio Officer for Financial Reporting and Accounting. Genette works closely with the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer to perform and manage the operations-related accounting requirements of ISBI, including maintaining the general ledger system, reviewing accounts payable, preparing the quarterly budget, processing payroll, and other accounting functions.

Genette obtained her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. Outside of work, Genette enjoys watching movies, listening to music, attending concerts, and walking along Chicago’s lakefront.

Mary Cahill

Director of Business Operations and Legislative Affairs
Mary Cahill serves as the Director of Business Operations and Legislative Affairs at ISBI. In her role, Mary works as a liaison between ISBI and the Illinois General Assembly and monitors pieces of legislation that may impact ISBI’s operations. Additionally, Mary oversees business operations in support of the legal, investment, and operations teams at ISBI.

Mary previously served as ISBI’s Business Operations and Government Affairs Analyst, and before joining ISBI worked as a legislative staffer for the Illinois House of Representatives. She is also a former Illinois Legislative Staff Intern Program (ILSIP) participant. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Theology from Boston College in 2017. She spends as much of her time as she can at Wrigley Field and exploring Chicago’s neighborhoods.

Patrick Hall

General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer
Patrick serves as the General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of the Illinois State Board of Investment. In his role, Patrick oversees ISBI’s legal affairs, advising the Executive Director and staff on investment matters and compliance with federal and state laws, as well as serving as the Secretary of the Board of Trustees.

Prior to joining ISBI, Patrick worked in various roles for the State of Illinois and City of Chicago, most recently serving as the General Counsel and Managing Deputy Procurement Officer for the Chicago Department of Procurement Services. Patrick earned his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law and received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Illinois State University. Outside of work, Patrick enjoys live music, movies, cooking, and cheering on Chicago sports teams.

Aayush Jakhete

Assistant Investment Officer
Aayush Jakhete serves as Assistant Investment Officer at ISBI. In this role, Aayush provides investment and operational support to the ED/CIO and broader ISBI Staff, including reporting and manager due diligence. Aayush is a generalist on the investment team and provides support across all asset classes.

Originally from Mumbai, Aayush graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a master’s degree in finance in 2024. Prior to moving to the U.S., Aayush spent a year working at Indiahikes in content and marketing. Apart from work, Aayush enjoys trekking, reading, playing pickleball, and talking Liverpool.

Jennifer Koelle

Senior Investment Officer – Public Markets
Jennifer Koelle serves as Senior Investment Officer – Public Markets at the Illinois State Board of Investment. In her role, Jennifer provides oversight for ISBI’s public market investments, helps to monitor and assess risk for ISBI’s investment program, and assists in developing and implementing ISBI’s overall investment policy. Additionally, Jennifer helps provide centralized oversight of the State’s Deferred Compensation Plan.

Prior to joining ISBI in 2020, Jennifer spent 15 years at Mercer in the Manager Research Group as a senior asset class specialist where she helped coordinate research of global and emerging markets equity strategies, undertook direct investment manager coverage, and was a voting member of the US equity ratings review committee. Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, with Minors in Mathematics and International Relations, from the University of Pennsylvania and is a Level II candidate in the CFA program.

Jeremy Mayeur

Assistant Investment Officer
Jeremy serves as an Assistant Investment Officer at ISBI. As a generalist on the investment team, Jeremy is responsible for providing support across all asset classes to the ED/CIO and broader ISBI Staff regarding manager due diligence, reporting, and other investment-related materials. Jeremy graduated with a Bachelor of Science in International Relations from Florida State University and previously worked at Fiducient Advisors and J.P. Morgan. He enjoys many hobbies in his free time, including sports, music and art.

Samantha McHugh

Associate General Counsel and Investment Compliance Officer
Sam McHugh serves as the Associate General Counsel and Investment Compliance Officer at ISBI. In her role, Sam supports the General Counsel and advises ISBI Staff and Trustees on a wide variety of legal matters, as well as overseeing ISBI’s compliance efforts.

Sam previously worked in commercial litigation at a Chicago law firm. During law school, she participated in internships at FINRA and the Securities and Exchange Commission in their respective enforcement departments. Sam earned her J.D. cum laude from Chicago-Kent College of Law. She received her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Boston University in 2015. In her free time, Sam enjoys hiking, watching movies, and cooking.

Dipesh Mehta

Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer

Dipesh Mehta serves as the Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer of the Illinois State Board of Investment (ISBI). He oversees over $30 billion in assets between the defined benefit and defined contribution plans on behalf of more than 175,000 beneficiaries. In his leadership position, Mr. Mehta is responsible for overseeing all investment operations, managing and executing ISBI’s investment policies, and assisting the Trustees in the strategic direction of ISBI. Mr. Mehta previously served as ISBI’s Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel.

Prior to joining ISBI in 2018, Mr. Mehta advised a broad array of venture capital, private equity and start‐up firms with an acute focus on deal sourcing, legal structure, and valuations. Mr. Mehta also previously held positions at Sterling Partners, Chapman and Cutler LLP, and Aon Corporation.

Mr. Mehta received his J.D. from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where he served as the Executive Editor of the Consumer Law Review and was a Rose Marie Russo Scholarship recipient. Prior to law school and under a Damen Scholarship, he earned his B.B.A. in Finance and minored in Economics at the Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago.

Polly Smith

Private Secretary
Polly Smith serves as the Private Secretary, working closely with the Executive Director & Chief Investment Officer (ED/CIO). In this role, Polly ensures a smooth operation at ISBI. Polly assists with schedules, monitors phone call notifications and ISBI emails, oversees the distribution of supplies and packages to office personnel, and enjoys meeting and greeting visitors to the ISBI office.

Atul Talwar

Chief Information Officer
Atul Talwar is the Chief Information Officer at ISBI. Atul’s primary function is to oversee ISBI’s evolving technology needs ranging from security and infrastructure implementation to website development and troubleshooting. Atul also serves as ISBI’s primary IT liaison with third parties including the State’s Department of Innovation and Technology and external vendors. In his spare time Atul enjoys traveling, hiking, good food, and flying airplanes.