Teachers, higher education administrators and financial planners are well acquainted with the work of TIAA-CREF. The insurance and investment company has been a central player in teacher retirement and financial planning for nearly a century. Twelve years ago, the organization spawned the TIAA-CREF Institute, a research-focused arm that brings together top theorists, administrators and researchers to identify and solve tomorrow's higher education problems. Today, the Institute rests in the capable hands of Stephanie Bell-Rose, who brings a decade of experience as founding president of the Goldman Sachs Foundation. This article presents an interview with new TIAA-CREF Institute Managing Director Stephanie Bell-Rose. In the interview, Bell-Rose discusses the role of the Institute, the importance of proper financial education and the impact of the current economic climate on the public's trust.