Lessons learned from Vietnam and the Founding of Parnassus

Jerome L. Dodson is the founder of Parnassus Investments, a fund management firm that is a leader in the world of socially responsible and “ESG” investing. With a steadfast commitment to the belief that financial success can be harmonized with positive social and environmental impact, Dodson founded Parnassus Investments in 1984, driven by the conviction that ethical considerations should be integral to investment decisions; after serving in many roles, including Chairman, he and his family sold their stakes in 2021 after building assets under management to over $40 billion.

Dodson first came to Vietnam in 1966 as a Foreign Service officer, working for the American Embassy in Saigon. His assignments took him all over the former South Vietnam. Dodson met his wife, Thao, in Vietnam and they’ve been married for 50 years. For 15 years, they’ve financed a program to educate 125 Vietnamese girls each year from poor families that is administered for them by the Asia Foundation. Dodson is a graduate of Harvard Business School.

On February 16th at 430 pm, Fulbright University will be hosting a talk given by Mr. Dodson titled: From Vietnam to the founding of Parnassus and Lessons learned.