I’m thrilled to welcome you to the relaunch of the newsletter for the Costello College of Business’s Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship and the Master’s in Real Estate Development (MRED). As the new Executive Director, I’m honored to join a community shaping the next generation of real estate professionals through its commitment to academic excellence, professional achievement, and industry engagement.
For those that don’t know me, I come to George Mason after decades as a land use and commercial real estate lawyer with the last ten years as the Mayor of the City of Falls Church. I look forward to working with you to strengthen these industry leading programs.
I also want to express my sincere gratitude to Bob Wulff, Arturo Garcia, and Allison Glosser, who have generously lent their time, energy, and editorial talents to help us relaunch this important platform. Their commitment reflects the spirit of collaboration that defines our community.
With this newsletter, we hope to keep you informed about our ongoing educational and social events, connected with our vibrant community, and inspired by the continued evolution of these programs. Read on for an update about the changes currently underway.
Curriculum Refresh
This year marks a pivotal moment for MRED as we take meaningful steps to renew our program to align with emerging trends and demand in the real estate industry. Among the new curricula to be introduced over the next semesters are classes focused on:
- Affordable Housing. Three new classes will provide a strong background in this important and timely area and will focus on affordable housing fundamentals, finance and policy. We are working with the accreditation body SCHEV to offer a certificate in affordable housing to both MRED students and those outside the program seeking advanced knowledge in this field.
- Data Center Development. As the world’s leader in data centers, Northern Virginia (and in turn, George Mason University) is a natural place for advanced learning about this thriving industry. We will start with a new class next year in Data Center Development with the hope to expand our offerings and expertise.
- Sustainable Development. A critical aspect of almost all new development, next year we are adding a class focusing on the intricacies of sustainable development.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
We are also expanding the ways our students learn beyond the classroom. In addition to the existing Capstone Class and the MRED Team’s participation in NAIOP’s Capital Challenge (competing with student teams from Georgetown, Hopkins and Maryland—where GMU routinely wins!), we are creating new experiential learning opportunities that take our students further—both geographically and professionally.
- Global Residency. Next Summer, we will be launching a global residency program for MRED--an international study experience that immerses students in global real estate markets and practices and includes one week to ten days of travel to an international destination for hands-on real estate learning.
- National Real Estate Competition. Next Spring, we will be offering students the opportunity to participate in a national real estate competition, giving MRED students the chance to test their mettle against their peers from top programs across the nation.
Intensive Professional Development Support
To further enhance career prospects and outcomes, we’ve implemented new professional development requisites that start on day one. Through these programs, students build industry connections, gain insights from practitioners, and cultivate the soft skills necessary for career development.
- Industry Mentor. Each new student is now paired with an MRED alum or industry mentor who can help students navigate the challenges of student life and career development.
- Personalized Career Planning. One-on-one career advising with an industry recruiter is now provided so that each new student can implement a personalized plan for success.
- Real Estate Industry Networking Skills Development. MRED students are now required to attend four professional networking events per semester (e.g. happy hours, seminars, luncheons, etc.) sponsored by leading industry groups like ULI, NAIOP, NVBIA and CREW.
Strengthening Student Ties with Industry
The Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship (CREE) bridges the gap between academia and real-world practice, connecting MRED students with the broader real estate community. CREE’s Advisory Board is instrumental in facilitating the challenging transition from student to professional and helping engage students with future colleagues and potential employers. Enhancing the outreach power of CREE through Advisory Board expansion, sponsorships and increased revenues will be an ongoing goal.
Conclusion
The continued growth of the MRED program and CREE is a team effort, and we’re deeply grateful for the involvement and support of our alumni, CREE Advisory Board members, faculty, and industry partners. Whether you’ve served as a mentor, guest speaker, or sponsor—or simply shared your insight and enthusiasm for the program—we thank you. Your contributions are helping us shape the next generation of real estate professionals.
With my colleagues May Abou Ghazaleh and our new hire Cara Williams, I look forward to working with all of you as we continue to elevate this program together. The future of real estate is dynamic and full of opportunity, and I’m confident that, with your support, our students and alumni will be at the forefront of shaping it.