Two University of the Pacific alumni are bringing decades of experience in the financial industry to the university’s Board of Regents as its newest members.

Meryam Alaoui-Crist ’94, former general manager of Elixir Savings, and Evan Dreyfuss ’86, an investment fund portfolio manager, begin three-year terms July 1.

The Board of Regents is composed of leaders across industries who volunteer their time to serve as the governing board for the university, overseeing its mission and finances.

“Evan Dreyfuss and Meryam Alaoui-Crist each bring remarkable energy, strategic leadership and vast experience to the board,” said Board of Regents Chair Mary-Elizabeth Eberhardt ’76, vice president and director of consumer banking at Bank of Stockton. “Their deep knowledge of Pacific and its communities is an incredible asset.

“The Board of Regents is a truly exceptional group, with members bringing expertise from a wide range of fields. Some are drawn to Pacific by personal connections, others by a passion for higher education—but all of us are united by a commitment to ensuring the best possible experience for our students. That’s at the heart of what it means to serve as a regent.”

President Christopher Callahan expressed his appreciation for their service.

“We are deeply grateful to welcome Meryam to the Board of Regents and to welcome back Evan,” said President Christopher Callahan. "Both have shown tremendous support for our students and university over the years. Their leadership and insights will be invaluable as we continue to pursue our goal of becoming the premier student-centric comprehensive university in America.”

Meryam Alaoui-Crist

Alaoui-Crist previously served as general manager of Elixir Savings, a pharmacy benefits and services company, from 2009-24. Prior to that, she spent nine years as vice president of American Express and also worked for the National Council on Compensation Insurance, overseeing the assigned risk investment portfolio.

A 1994 alumna of the Eberhardt School of Business, she attributes her professors and peers with playing a crucial role in her personal and professional growth. “Everyone was invested in our success,” she said.

She established the Meryam Alaoui Emerging Entrepreneur Endowed Scholarship to support students with a passion for entrepreneurship as well as the Eloise Johnson and Jane Johnson Sonner Endowed Scholarship for Education.

“For more than 10 years, I have enjoyed donating to the university in the form of scholarships and other financial support, but my career left little flexibility for giving time,” Alaoui-Crist said. “I recall thinking long ago that when the opportunity arose, hands-on engagement at Pacific would be my priority. Now in semi-retirement, I am truly thrilled to join other regents who share this passion for the school. I now look forward to contributing more tangibly and learning from one another.”

Evan Dreyfuss

Dreyfuss, a portfolio manager for the investment fund Twin Lake Total Return Partners which he founded in 2002, returns to the Board of Regents after previously serving from 2015-24.

He has provided extensive support to Pacific students over the years. In 2022, he and his wife Elizabeth donated $1 million to create the Dreyfuss Family Fixed Income Fund, a student-run investment fund focused on bonds. He also established the Dreyfuss Wall Street Fellows Endowment in 2016 to send business students on an annual week-long trip to New York to meet with financial industry insiders and network with alumni.

“The opportunity to be hands on in helping my alma mater reach new heights is very fulfilling,” Dreyfuss said. “The ability to be a mentor to students at Eberhardt who are involved in either the Eberhardt Student Investment Fund or the Dreyfuss Family Fixed Income Fund is very rewarding. I have always wanted to give back to Pacific in any way I can.”

Dreyfuss earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration with a concentration in finance from Pacific in 1986. He and his wife have three children and live in Naples, Florida.

Anne Milne departs after six years on board

Regent Anne Milne ’78 completes her term June 30 after spending six years volunteering on the Board of Regents.

“Anne is a devoted advocate for the transformative power of education,” Eberhardt said. “Her leadership as a regent over the past six years has helped shape Pacific’s progress and her service made a lasting difference in the lives of our students. We are profoundly grateful for her many contributions.”

Milne currently works as managing director at Bank of America and is responsible for managing the Global Emerging Markets credit research teams in New York, London, Sao Paulo and Buenos Aires.

She majored in international studies at Pacific before earning a master’s degree in international economics from Johns Hopkins University and now lives in New York City with her husband Jacob.

In 2016 she established the Anne Milne Endowed Fund, which provides internship opportunities and scholarships for students in College of the Pacific.