Gary Rozier, ECON ’99

As a successful investment executive and a dedicated father and husband, Gary Rozier, ECON ’99, may be based in Chicago, but his work and his passions take him around the world, across the country—and right back to College Park, as much as possible.

Gary is the Senior Managing Director of Real Assets for Blue Owl Capital, which is a publicly traded asset manager that provides high-quality capital solutions to businesses and to investors. He previously was senior vice president at Ariel Investments, and started his career in Maryland at Rydex Investments.

Gary has helped Blue Owl grow and expand at a rapid pace over the past few years, amid many changes in the global economy and in the markets domestically, from the COVID-19 pandemic to inflation to higher interest rates. Through it all, Rozier has helped Blue Owl to exponentially grow to almost $300 billion in assets under management in just over four years.

“I joined my friend and business partner, Marc Zahr, to help grow his predecessor firm, Oak Street Real Estate Capital, which was acquired by Blue Owl in 2021. It’s been an amazing run, and I don’t think we have hit full speed yet. Despite the various changes and volatility, we block out the noise around us and stay disciplined in our strategy. I learned some of those guiding principles about discipline and stability on the job, but a lot came from having studied behavioral finance and from many of my classes when I was an ECON major at Maryland,” Rozier said. “It is important to remain steady and focused on the long term, even when the world is telling you to look at what’s happening in the short term.”

Rozier brings that focus and intensity to his job, and to the many ways that he serves the communities he loves, including serving as Chair of the BSOS Board of Visitors. Recently, Rozier was elected to the University of Maryland, College Park Foundation Board of Trustees. For several years, he has been a member of the college’s Economics Leadership Council.

Through his acts of service, interactions with students and young alumni, and visits to campus for sporting events and more, Rozier is a dedicated Terp. In the fall of 2025, he shared advice and insight on success at every stage.

Advice to Current Students

Rozier has two points of advice for current students that might seem at odds with each other: relax … and be intense. But Rozier’s experiences at UMD and throughout his career help put this advice in greater context.

“I meet with a lot of students, and I’m raising three kids of my own, one who is approaching college age. And the first thing I would say to any undergraduate is, relax. College can be really stressful, from getting in, to the expectations you have, to exams and workload, but relax. This is an amazing time in your life; don’t miss it,” Rozier said. “Don’t be too concerned about everything going exactly to plan, don’t let the experience pass you by because you are overwhelmed. Enjoy time with peers, amongst world class professors, take it all in. Be open. You don’t know what you’re good at yet, come in with a plan, but be open—you never know.”

This approach served Rozier well, as he was initially a biology major who happened to take an ECON course as an elective. He found his passion and his career path in economics. While this path unfolded because he was nimble and open to change, he has built professional and personal success because once he sets his course, he’s locked in.

“I also tell students to be intense about what you do. Once you know you want something, put your foot in the dirt, come at it with your whole body, immerse yourself in it. As a student on this campus, you are surrounded by highly intelligent people—be intentional, immerse yourself in this experience. Later on, you will learn about specialization within a career, but this campus is where you can just be a sponge and take it all in.”

Giving Back to Help Students Move Forward

As an engaged alumnus, Rozier said he’s eager to help build bright futures for fellow Terps. This is, in part, because he had what he calls the “quintessential college experience” at Maryland, making friends, playing rugby, and experiencing diversity and a proximity to D.C. that was especially meaningful to him, coming from Pittsburgh and building a new foundation in College Park.

Rozier is a Lifetime Member of the University of Maryland Alumni Association, and has made a number of generous gifts to UMD and to BSOS. Notably, he created the Gary L. Rozier Professional Experience Endowment. Through the gifts and funds that he supports, Rozier is helping students to take advantage of opportunities, and gain experiences and connections for the future.

“When I think of both students and the university itself, you need resources to be world-class. Whether donors can help bring resources to fund professorships, or help cover student tuition or provide money to help a student take that unpaid internship, you’ve got to have the resources to be great,” Rozier said. “I give because I had such a great experience, I want others to have it as well. Because I received so much from Maryland, I want to help remove barriers so that all students can have an outstanding collegiate experience.”

Thoughts on Family and Community

Rozier and his wife, Macy, have three children: Dominic, Tyson, and Alison. He and his wife are both committed to family time, to their careers, and to traveling and partaking in fun activities with their children. It’s a busy lifestyle, he said, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.

While his wife graduated from Penn State, the couple decided to have their wedding here at the University of Maryland 20 years ago at Memorial Chapel. That unforgettable experience—along with his visits to campus and his continued engagement with the Department of Economics, BSOS and the University—ensure that Rozier will always be a Terp.

Together, Rozier and his wife have taken the same “all in” approach to building their family as they have to other successes in their lives.

“We put our whole selves into everything we do. My wife is the greatest CEO that I know. She holds it together, and we are all at our best because of her. I’m able to manage a global business while missing very little back at home. We figure out how to be present and to put our whole selves in—that’s my joy in life.”

Through intentionality, pursuing his passions, and giving back, Rozier is focused on making an impact.

“Impact is undeniable. I see that with my kids, who are three great human beings, and I am working to help them go on to do great things. I see the impact of my giving every year when I talk to students, and when I see the ‘thank you’ videos they make when they receive scholarships. My giving is going to have an impact on their lives, and I hope the students I support go on to great careers and to be philanthropic as well. I have remained very connected to UMD, and that makes me feel great, and I’m so thankful to get to engage with students and to visit this campus that I love. My love for Maryland is clear to everyone who knows me. I wear it on my sleeve with pride. I’m eternally grateful for the foundation I built here, and for all of the things that Maryland has provided for me.”