SMU Hosts Diversity in Real Estate Program, Wins Capstone Project

HCP proud to support SMU summer program to develop greater diversity in commercial real estate industry

(DALLAS – August 9, 2021) The SMU-Cox Folsom Institute for Real Estate participated in a two-week summer course in real estate fundamentals for rising junior and senior minority students. The program, Real Estate Exchange (REEX), is a combined effort between various industry organizations and several major real estate universities. The program was held virtually and took place July 12th-July 23rd. Folsom Institute Director Joseph Cahoon and MetLife’s Director of Acquisitions and Developments/SMU Adjunct Professor James Ray led SMU’s efforts, while being joined by faculty from Harvard University, Howard University, Marquette University and Roosevelt University. Students were exposed to the fundamentals of market analysis, financial feasibility, and property/asset management. In addition to learning about the real estate investment and development process, students were exposed to different career paths in the real estate industry to hopefully inspire their future career choices.

As a capstone project, the students worked in teams to propose a development plan for a future phase of the redevelopment of Red Bird Mall in southern Dallas. At the end of the two week session, the teams presented to a panel of judges, and the winning team then competed against students from the partner schools in a national final competition. The team from SMU – Mustang Development – dominated the competition, defeating teams from across the country to win the capstone project competition.

Hughes Capital Partners supports further diversity within the commercial real estate industry and was proud to be a sponsor of the SMU REEX program and contribute to the mentorship of students during the capstone project.

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About SMU-Cox Folsom Institute for Real Estate
The Robert and Margaret Folsom Institute for Real Estate at the SMU-Cox School of Business was originally established to provide outreach to the real estate community to be actively involved in the research and debate of critical private and public land use issues. The Institute has been the backbone of the study of the real estate industry at SMU, supporting the real estate academic programs at both the BBA and MBA levels. The Institute is cultivating tomorrow’s real estate leaders by its dedication to academic excellence, real world applications, leadership coaching, networking opportunities and career placements.

For more information about the SMU-Cox Folsom Institute for Real Estate visit the SMU website.

About Real Estate Exchange (REEX) Summer Programs
Founded in 2016, the Real Estate Exchange (REEX) Summer Programs are aimed at addressing the dearth of African Americans and Latinos working within the commercial real estate (CRE) industry. Working with leading CRE sponsors/organizations to implement a residential summer program at top colleges and universities across the country, REEX aims to expose 1,500 top talent, diverse teens to careers in the CRE industry by 2023.

For more information about Real Estate Exchange (REEX) Summer Programs visit www.reexprograms.org.