A new Center for Real Estate Studies has been established within The University of Tulsa’s Collins College of Business, with more than 100 students already involved so far. The new center was announced March 27 during the Friends of Finance luncheon on campus.
“I am very excited about the opportunity to launch The University of Tulsa Center for Real Estate Studies, which has been a few years in the making. The efforts to create the center came together through the support of Dean Kathy Taylor, a high level of interest and engagement from TU alumni working in the real estate industry, and the enthusiastic response of our students,” said Meagan McCollum, an associate professor of finance who will lead the initiative.
McCollum said for students who are curious about real estate – either as a potential career path or future investment opportunity – the center will offer a variety of opportunities to learn both in and out of the classroom.
“We offer a minor in real estate, a student club, opportunities to attend local and national professional conferences, research opportunities with peers and professors, and lots of networking opportunities with industry professionals,” she said. “The center will also be a nexus for academic research in real estate, providing enhanced opportunities for professors to collaborate.”
Finally, the center will be a resource for the real estate industry in Oklahoma. It will partner with government agencies, nonprofits, and private firms in Tulsa and beyond to provide independent third-party real estate research and analysis on issues that impact the community, including addressing growing housing affordability needs and shifts in demand for commercial real estate, particularly office space, in local markets.
“This center compliments the research and opportunities available in the Collins College of Business’ other two centers: Center for Energy Studies and Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” said Taylor, the Genave King Rogers Dean of the college. “The support from real estate industry professionals and other faculty members including Dr. Larry Wofford and Dr. Cayman Seagraves make this center an exceptional opportunity for students from across the university.”
John Dalby, a TU finance and real estate sophomore, said the center will bring post-college experience to those currently on the undergraduate level. “For instance, connecting with professionals in the real estate field through trips and conferences is something that will help students when looking for internships or jobs in the future,” he said, “and the new research projects at the center have the potential to build skills that will translate well to the work force.”
TU students and faculty also have the opportunity to access information typically available only to industry professionals thanks to a new partnership with CoStar Group SHARE Center, which includes real estate and hospitality data. CoStar access is usually thousands of dollars a year per license, and they are providing a license to all enrolled TU students and professors teaching in real estate free of charge.
Additionally, TU students and faculty are making their mark academically. Two students, Tulsi Patel and Cailin Stauffer, along with Taylor and Professor Eric Olson recently attended the Design for Freedom conference presented by Grace Farms, a foundation started by Sharon Prince (BSBA ’85, MBA ’86), who delivered the keynote address at TU’s Friends of Finance Executive Speaker Series in October. Design for Freedom reimagines architecture by raising awareness and inspiring responses to disrupt forced labor in the building materials supply chain.
Furthermore, McCollum is being published nationally on her research on the environment and sustainability in real estate. She is also engaging with undergraduate students in research that supports work by Partner Tulsa.