This May, COAERS announced the launch of its first-ever internship program, inviting eager students and recent graduates to learn about the impactful work of the retirement system. The internship offers a unique opportunity to work alongside experienced professionals in a collaborative environment, gaining real-world knowledge in public pensions, pension administration, investments, finance, member services, communications, and more.

After receiving hundreds of qualified applicants, COAERS selected Ms. Alejandra Peredes to join the team as its first intern. Marking a historic moment, Alejandra completed the 10-week internship program where she engaged in projects across various departments, learned how retirement benefits are managed and how investment strategies support long-term financial security for public employees, participated in mentorship opportunities, and contributed to initiatives that directly impact the retirement system’s valued members.

Learn more about Alejandra and her internship experience at COAERS.

Visit www.coaers.org/internship for information about the COAERS Internship Program.

Get to Know the Intern: Alejandra Peredes

Tell us about yourself and your background

I’m the oldest of four children, with two sisters and one brother, and I grew up in a small suburb outside of Houston. I love staying physically active and enjoy exploring different trails around the area. I also like playing sports like volleyball and pickleball. Most recently, I’ve gotten into bouldering, which has been a great way to challenge myself both mentally and physically.

I’m currently pursuing a degree in Finance with a minor in Sustainability Leadership at UT Austin. I chose Finance because of its diverse career opportunities and its constantly evolving nature. As someone who considers herself an environmentalist, I picked my minor to explore how I can combine those two fields. I want to understand how industries are adapting to environmental challenges, and I want to be part of those solutions.

What inspired you to apply for an internship at COAERS? 

What initially drew me to COAERS was the rotational aspect of the internship program. I see myself in a leadership position one day, and I believe it’s essential to understand the various departments within an organization. I was also really attracted to COAERS’ mission of supporting the retirement security of City of Austin employees.

During my time at UT, I’ve been incredibly fortunate to benefit from the resources and opportunities that the Austin community has provided. Applying to COAERS felt like a meaningful way to give back and contribute to an organization that directly supports the people who make this city, and ultimately my college experience, what it is.

What’s one project or task you’ve really enjoyed working on so far? 

For my final project at COAERS, I was tasked with writing a research report on a topic of my choice. I decided to focus on data centers, specifically cooling and power infrastructure, as an investment strategy. I explored how these investments can help mitigate risks, reduce long-term costs, and align with ESG initiatives. Initially, I started with a broad focus on green infrastructure, but as I got deeper into the research, I realized I might have bitten off more than I could chew. I’ve always been interested in data centers, especially when it comes to the energy consumption challenges they face and their impact on local grid systems. Diving into what drives that energy usage, particularly the cooling systems, was fascinating. That insight became the foundation of my thesis, and I’m excited to finish and present my final report.

Have you learned anything surprising about the pension industry? 

Before this internship, I had little to no knowledge of the pension industry. I was surprised to learn that some pension plans provide monthly payments after retirement regardless of investment performance. These are called defined benefit plans. They are more costly and place the administrative, operational, and investment risks on the provider, which explains why they are less common in the private sector.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how intentional COAERS is about serving its members. One of the reasons I applied was because COAERS, as a public pension fund, is truly member-focused. While many organizations claim to prioritize the people they serve, I’ve seen that mentality in action here. From internal controls to watching how customer service and other departments collaborate to create events like the annual members meeting, it is clear that members and their best interests are at the heart of every decision.

How has this internship shaped your understanding of retirement planning or financial wellness? 

As a first-generation student, I wasn’t taught a lot of basic personal finance concepts growing up, especially around retirement planning. Through my experiences at COAERS, I’ve realized how important it is to start preparing early. It’s not about how much you have when you start, but when you start.

What skills have you developed or strengthened during your time here? 

Since joining COAERS, I’ve improved my Excel skills and worked on exploratory data analytics projects that helped me become more confident in graphing and identifying trends. My current project has pushed me to refine how I gather, analyze, and synthesize information while managing my time effectively.

Beyond hands-on experience, I’ve had opportunities to expand my education by completing certificate programs like the CFA Investment Foundations Student Certificate, the Texas Pension Review Board Minimum Educational Training, and a course in governmental accounting.

What’s one piece of advice you would give advice to future interns at COAERS? 

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. I used to hesitate because I assumed people were too busy or worried I’d disrupt their workflow. But if someone is unavailable, they’ll let you know. Often, people are happy to help when they can because they’ve been in your shoes too. Even if you think it’s a dumb question, it’s not. It’s only a dumb question if it’s the third time you’ve asked it.