Fiscal Year 2021-2022
The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate Impact Report business.sdsu.edu
The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate
FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2021-22 POINTS OF PRIDE
Message from Faculty
Edward Pierzak, Ph.D. Finance Department Director, The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate
The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate (TCMCRE) remains dedicated to improving real estate education and research at SDSU and creating a bridge between the real estate industry and the San Diego community. In the 2021-2022 academic year, TCMCRE plans to offer student programs focused on LinkedIn, Excel, and Argus and will continue its efforts to promote mentorships, internships, scholarships, and jobs among students. We are also hopeful that we will be able to resume our in-person networking events for students, alumni, faculty, staff, and industry professionals. TCMCRE’s leadership and advisory board, the Dean of the Fowler College of Business, and the development team are collaborating to build upon the current set of programming to propel TCMCRE to become a nationally recognized resource for excellence in real estate education and thought leadership. Thank you for your commitment and support of this vision! Go Aztecs! Edward Pierzak, Ph.D. Director, The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate
Overview
The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate at San Diego State University was established with a generous donation from the McMillin family and named in honor of Corky McMillin, one of Southern California's most prominent home builders for over four decades. The McMillin Center exists to enhance the academic experience of real estate students and provides excellent opportunities to engage with industry professionals, as well as participate in supplemental education sessions such as Excel modeling, CoStar and Argus training. In addition, the Center is committed to developing critical and innovative research for the real estate community.
Fowler College of
Business
Student Spotlight | Program Impact
Making an Impact Student Spotlight: Nadya Gorelov
2018
Nadya Gorelov is a junior in the Fowler College Business, majoring in real estate and minoring in interdisciplinary studies through the Weber Honors College
San Diego's real estate market is competitive and challenging to break into, but the Corky McMillian Center for Real Estate provides students with the tools and opportunities to succeed in the industry. Whether it is connecting students to prominent alumni, or encouraging them to join the student organization Real Estate Society, TCMCRE makes sure students have hands-on, personable, and unique experiences in real estate. The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate offered Nadya Gorelov an applicable curriculum and opportunities to get hands-on experiences in the industry. Class speakers, invited by professors, became part of Nadya's network after she invited them to coffee chats. Outside of the classroom, TCMCRE provided Nadya with the chance to be the Real Estate Society's (RES) programs director and a team member of the NAIOP Challenge; she is now running to be RES's next president. This summer, Nadya will be an intern at CBRE, a highly competitive opportunity that she couldn't have secured without the tools and support of The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate.
Program Impact: Day 1 Program
Jess G., Real Estate Major
The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate partners with the Real Estate Society at SDSU and professionals throughout the region to offer the Day 1 Program. This program offers hands-on experience, tools, and resources to prepare students to enter the workforce and pursue a career in real estate upon graduation. Students have access to a series of workshops, seminars, and boot camps that are relevant to the continuously evolving real estate industry.
“I have enjoyed taking part in the many opportunities that San Diego State's real estate program has provided; my favorite of which being the networking events I attended. The real estate program has provided extensive educational sessions, such as Excel modeling and Argus training, which are intangible assets that will surely propel me forward in my career. I am proud to be an Aztec and to have taken part in the many offerings of the real estate program.” - Jess G.
Thank you for supporting student scholarships, experiential learning, and The Corky McMillin Center for Real Estate Director Endowment.
Student Organization Spotlight | Real Estate Society
Q & A with Real Estate Society President
Q: As a student leader involved with an organization at SDSU, can you share why you got involved and what your experience has been like so far?
I always knew I wanted to become more involved with real estate and found the Real Estate Society (RES) as a path to help me pursue these interests. I was very impressed with the multiple facets and avenues in the real estate industry. I saw that the Real Estate Society created a comfortable atmosphere for someone like me, who did not know too much about real estate coming into college. My ADVISING experience with theSTUDENT Real Estate SocietyAPPOINTMENTS has been absolutely incredible so far. I have Three staff conducted 684 appointments (in-person/virtual) in met so many great people, and it has allowed me to gain real-world experience AY21-22 compared to 819 with five staff in AY20-21. More than 70% within the field. Thewere connections and(21%) experiences I have with Juniors and Seniors (51%).had so far have created a lot of opportunities for the future.
Q: Are you involved in any other organizations on campus? Justin Strauss President of the Real Estate Society, Finance Major with a Real Estate Minor
Beyond being the president of this organization, I am also one of the Associated Students Fowler College of Business Student Representatives. For this role, I sit on the UC Council for Associated Students and the Executive Board for the Fowler College for Business. I have really enjoyed this position thus far and have learned a lot.
Q: What experience with your organization has been the most impactful?
I think meeting so many great people has been the most impactful experience so far. I have met incredible people who have helped me become more successful and pursue my interests even further. RES has been a great networking tool.
Q: What has been your favorite event you have attended at SDSU? Why?
I think the SDSU Kawhi Leonard basketball game has been my favorite event I have attended at SDSU. The stadium was packed, and it was so great to see that school spirit.
Q: Why is getting involved on campus important to you?
Getting involved on campus is so vital to me because I think it opens a lot of doors for potential opportunities in the future. Also, it allows me to meet new people from different backgrounds and make genuine relationships. Becoming involved gives me a better sense of potential avenues I may want to explore and helps me stay connected with the school.
Q: What is the best advice you have received during your time at SDSU? Get involved. Try to become comfortable with becoming uncomfortable.
Q: What is the best advice you have for future Fowler College of Business students?
The best advice I could give is to meet as many people as possible and join as many clubs as you can. I think oftentimes people tend to fall into the trap of being comfortable with a couple of people and not having any desire to meet others. There are a lot of great people here at SDSU; do not be afraid to reach out to others and become involved. Also, reach out to professionals in the industry for shadow/internship opportunities. Experiences like these cannot be taught in school and are so valuable.
Student Organization Spotlight | Real Estate Society (cont'd)
Q: Are you involved in any internship opportunities?
I have had a couple of great internship opportunities! Throughout the fall semester of my junior year in high school, I was able to shadow a local residential real estate broker and learned a lot from this experience. This internship allowed me to gain a broad understanding of what residential real estate consists of. I was also able to see the day-to-day activities that a residential real estate broker goes through and was able to sit in and attend multiple open houses. During the summer after my freshman year, I was able to intern with a sales firm. This past summer, I had the opportunity to intern under Lee and Associates with an STUDENT ADVISING APPOINTMENTS industrial commercial real estate broker. I did not know too much about Three staff conducted 684 appointments (in-person/virtual) in commercial real estate, socompared obtainingtothis allowed me toMore gainthan an 70% AY21-22 819internship with five staff in AY20-21. understanding of how to be a successful broker in the commercial real estate were with Juniors (21%) and Seniors (51%). industry. All of these internship opportunities have helped me understand more about certain job fields and have helped me narrow down what I would like to do in the future.
Q: What are your plans following graduation?
I don't really have a set plan following graduation. Ideally, I think I would like to travel around Europe for a month after graduation and then jump right into a job in the field of real estate or sales. I plan on staying in Southern California, either right here in San Diego or moving back home to Orange County.
Q: What career aspirations do you have following your time at SDSU?
Following my time at SDSU, I hope I can jump into a career that I love to do and am successful in. I hope I can find a job that helps me provide for my family.
Q: Is there anything else you’d like to add about your time at SDSU/experience in your organization?
I have absolutely loved my time so far at SDSU and am really grateful I got into this school. It has provided me with endless opportunities, and I have met a lot of great people. If you have the slightest interest in real estate, or if you just want to meet some great people, join the Real Estate Society.
Q: Pancakes or waffles? Waffles Q: Favorite band? The Lumineers Q: Instagram or TikTok? Instagram Q: Horror or comedy movie? Comedy Q: Sunset Cliffs or La Jolla? Sunset Cliffs Q: Pancho’s or Trujillo’s? Trujillo's Q: Fun Fact? I was on The Price of Right and won a hammock and trip to the Virgin Islands.
"I have met incredible people who have helped me become more successful and pursue my interests even further. RES has been a great networking tool." -Justin Strauss
Thank you for your generous support.
For questions regarding this report please contact DonorRelations@SDSU.edu or call (619) 594-2448.
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