News, Events, and Thought Leadership
Third Annual Fordham REI Building Futures Scholarship and Awards Gala
On Monday, June 9, 2025 the Fordham REI honored real estate and construction industry leaders who are shaping New York City's skyline. Proceeds from the event support the Building Futures Scholarship which offers low-income New York Metro area students access to REI's programs and careers in real estate and construction. Honorees: Bruce Ratner, philanthropist and former CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies, Robert Knakal, Chairman and CEO of BKREA, Katie Nilsen, Vice President, Development and Strategy, E-J Electric Installation Co., Schillivia Baptiste, Chief Executive Officer, Laland Baptiste, and Gemma Burgess, Managing Director, RRA Global Real Estate Practice Russell Reynolds Associates. Master of Ceremonies: James Nelson, Head of US Investment Sales, Avison Young.
June 9, 2025
She Builds: Building Projects in the Higher Rate Environment
Fordham REI hosted a fireside chat featuring MaryAnne Gilmartin, founder and CEO MAG Partners, and Rebecca Rockey, Deputy Chief Economist Global Head of Forecasting, Cushman & Wakefield. With interest rate normalization leading to the prospect of perpetually higher mortgage and cap rates, how will the real estate industry move forward? A discussion between industry leaders on the future of real estate development, capital markets, and economic realities for 2025 and beyond.
April 30, 2025
RESA NYC and Fordham REI Collaboration: Distressed Real Estate Trends
RESA and Fordham University Real Estate Institute collaborated on a fireside chat featuring Marion Jones (Avison Young) and Lonnie Hendry (Trepp). Each shared expert insights on the evolving distressed real estate market. Following the discussion, a panel of industry leaders explored key challenges, opportunities, and strategies for navigating distressed assets in today’s market. Panelists included RESA Members Brian Cohen, James Nelson, and Scott Aiese, along with special guest Gary Curwin of Morgan Stanley.
March 4, 2025
A Conversation with NYC Planning Director Dan Garodnick
A lively and thought-provoking in-person event with , Dan Garodnick, New York City's Planning Director. Attendees at this joint Fordham REI / Fordham Law School event gained insight into urban development and future NYC projects shaping the city's landscape.
January 2025
Fordham's RE Masters Send Students From the Classroom to the Boardroom (The Real Deal)
Fordham’s graduate programs in real estate give students the skills and connections they need to succeed in the competitive real estate space. Designed for learners in every phase of their RE career, these flexible graduate programs combine the Jesuit University’s commitment to integrity and academic excellence with a robust professional network to create a unique educational experience in the heart of Manhattan. TRD got an inside look at what makes these programs tick from the Real Estate Institute’s Executive Director as well as a member of its Board and a pair of recent graduates. View Here
October 2024
Fordham Real Estate Institute Honors CRE Leaders (The Mann Report)
The Fordham Real Estate Institute (REI) brought together hundreds of business and real estate professionals at its Lincoln Center campus for the second annual "Building Futures" premier awards gala to celebrate industry visionaries and support future careers in commercial real estate. View Here
July 2024
Pension Real Estate Association (PREA) Student Memberships Available
As an academic institution that is a member of PREA, Fordham REI expands the opportunity for students to obtain at no cost student memberships in PREA. As student-members, students have access to a significant array of resources to learn about institutional real estate investment.
Career Development Through the ICSC University Partnership Program
As a designated University Partner with the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Fordham REI offers students access to impressive ICSC networking, mentorship, scholarship, internship, and other professional career development opportunities.
Fordham REI Launches Hospitality Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs
Newly launched Fordham REI Hospitality Programs provide aspiring students a pathway to leadership roles in hospitality management, investment and development. The new programs include a Master of Science in Hospitality degree, an advanced certificate in Hotel Management, and an advanced certificate in Hospitality Investment and Development.
2024 Fordham REI Annual Building Futures Awards Gala
Join us as we honor leaders who are shaping New York City's landscape and revolutionizing the built environment. Your support will benefit the Building Futures Scholarship Fund which offers low-income New Yorkers access to REI's courses and programs, and to careers in real estate and construction. Experience and celebrate innovation and leadership, and invest in our industry leaders of tomorrow! Honorees: Ethan Penner, CEO, Mosaic Real Estate Investors, Annemarie DiCola, Esq., CEO, Trepp Inc., and Steven Roth, Chairman and CEO, Vornado Realty Trust. Date: June 18, 2024. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Location: Fordham University Lincoln Center Campus. Costantino Ballroom, 150 West 62nd Street, NYC.
Live, Work and Play: Developing Strong and Equitable Communities Focusing on Mixed-Use Development with Hospitality and Entertainment Anchors
Dr. Joshua Harris, Fordham REI executive director, MaryAnne Gilmartin, founder and CEO, MAG Partners, and Allison Reid, chief global growth officer, Aimbridge Hospitality discuss the challenges and opportunities in developing the next generation of livable communities that are fun and equitable for all residents and visitors. Date: Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Location: Fordham University, Costantino Ballroom, 150 West 62nd Street, NYC. View Here
Revolutionizing Real Estate - Exploring the Smart Solutions of AI
Fordham REI and the Business Council of Westchester present exploring smart solutions of AI with moderator Dr. Joshua Harris, executive director, Fordham REI and guest panelists Nikki Greenberg, founder and CEO, Real Estate of the Future, Ravi Bhatia, business development manager, Skanska Civil, Sanjay Gandhi, senior managing director property management, Besen Partners, and Serge Reda, Fordham REI Technology committee chair and proptech technologist. View Recording Here
AI in Real Estate Discussed During Virtual Forum (Westfair Business Journal)
The impact of artificial intelligence on the real estate industry came up for discussion in a recent virtual forum hosted by Fordham University's School of Professional and Continuing Studies and the Business Council of Westchester (BCW). Industry panelists included Ravi Bhatia (Fordham REI), Joshua Harris (Fordham REI), Serge Reda (Fordham REI), Sanjay Gandhi (Besen Partners), and Nikki Greenberg (RE Technology Strategist and Futurist). View Here
April 9, 2024
Industrial Space Demand Forecast | NAIOP | Josh Harris, PhD
With the U.S. economy expected to continue to grow slowly, the authors estimate that quarterly net absorption of industrial space will average 14.0 million square feet per quarter over the next two years, or 62.8 and 49.1 million square feet in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Read Here
March 2024
Titan Talks with Bess Freedman Featuring David L. Picket, Gotham Organization
Fordham Real Estate Institute Executive Advisory Council member Bess Freedman hosted Titan Talks with an in-depth interview with industry leader David L. Picket, Gotham Organization. View Here.
March 14, 2024
Colin Whelan, Fordham REI MSRED Student Selected to AFIRE Fellows Mentorship Program
Josh Harris, PhD, CRE, REI executive director and Colin Whelan, MSRED student, represented Fordham REI at the AFIRE 2024 Winter Conference in Miami. Colin Whelan was chosen to participate as a fellow in the AFIRE Mentorship Program which forms relationships between C-suite Executives, Rising Leaders, and Fellows. Fellows are typically graduate students and early-career professionals. Congratulations Colin!
February 2024
Beyond the Buzz: The Real Impact of AI on Real Estate
Industry leaders discuss how AI is revolutionizing the real estate industry. Opening remarks by Ryan O'Connor, chair of the Fordham REI Executive Advisory Council, and Joshua Harris, PhD, CRE, executive director of Fordham REI. Keynote by Serge Reda, chair of Fordham REI Technology Committee. Moderated by Caren Maio, member of Fordham REI EAC. Panelists include Karen Hollinger, managing director, KKR Capstone, Bard Hargreaves, founder, Common, Stephanie Fuhrman, senior VP corporate development, Entrata, and Ravi Bhatia, Fordham REI Technology Committee, business development, Skanska. VIEW HERE
February 13, 2024
New Office Underwriting Standards: Can the Hospitality Model Save Office Values?
The office space industry needs to have its own moment of creativity and innovation to sustain values and plot a course toward recovery. A possible step is adopting new underwriting standards and letting go of an old favorite: Weighted Average Lease Term (WALT). With rapidly changing business and workplace environments office asset managers should focus primarily on maximizing cash flows. Ultimately, a building that maximizes Revenue Per Available Square Foot (RevPAF) will likely generate more profits and thus be more valuable, all else being equal - a lesson that can be learned from the hospitality industry. Read here.
Joshua Harris, Ph.D., is executive director of the Fordham Real Estate Institute. January 2024
Joshua Harris, PhD, CRE, CCIM Appointed Executive Director of REI
The Fordham University School of Professional and Continuing Studies has named leading real estate economist and investment strategist Joshua Harris, PhD, CRE, CCIM, as the executive director of REI. Josh is responsible for external relations, overseeing curriculum development, promoting thought leadership, and expanding program offerings. Harris specializes in real estate development, finance, capital markets, and business organizational leadership and strategy. He is the newly named chair of the Counselors of Real Estate's Economic Advisory Council, an 11-member group of thought-leaders providing economic forecasting and analysis of indicators, fiscal policies and property market data for commercial real estate. Josh will continue to teach real estate development and finance courses for the graduate programs at REI.
December 2023
Joshua Harris, PhD, CRE, CCIM Named Chair of The Counselor's Economic Advisory Council
Fordham REI's Josh Harris, PhD, named chair of The Counselor's of Real Estate Economic Advisory Council. The 11-member group has a stellar reputation for economic forecasting and offers compelling analysis and interpretation of indicators, fiscal policies, and property market data.
December 2023
An Urban Doom Loop? Not so Fast!
Hugh F. Kelly, PhD, CRE, Fordham REI thought leader offers his insight into forecasts of an "urban doom loop" for urban areas and real estate values. Read here.
Gen Z in the Real Estate Workforce
Fordham REI and Jackson Lucas present Gen Z in the Real Estate Workforce. Panel includes Alicia Price, vice president, Goldman Sachs, Nausheen Husain, global head of HR, Madison International Realty, Laura Washburton, senior director head of talent acquisition, Tishman Speyer, Monique Jefferson, chief people officer, The Community Preservation Corporation, Clara Kim, vice president diversity and talent development, Howard Hughes Holdings, Inc., Lisa Flicker, head of real estate managing partner, Jackson Lucas, Ryan O'Connor, chair, REI Executive Advisory Council, CEO, Clinton Management, and Chris Papa, founding partner, Jackson Lucas.
December 4, 2023
Industry Leaders Join Fordham REI Executive Advisory Council
Fordham REI EAC Chair Ryan O'Connor announces that Scott Avram, senior vice president of development, The Lightstone Group, Caren Maio, PropTech founder and investor, and Kenneth Morrison, managing member at Lemor Development Group LLC have joined the advisory council and will assist with thought leadership, curriculum development, and industry outreach.
November 2023
Fordham REI and Henley Business School, University of Reading UK Launch Strategic Partnership
Fordham REI launches strategic partnership with the Department of Real Estate & Planning at the Henley Business School, University of Reading UK with a London - New York panel discussion on the Future of the Office in Global Financial Centers. The London panel moderated by Eamonn D'Arcy, professor of international real estate, Henley Business School, University of Reading, includes James Abrahams MRICS, partner commercial investment, Allsop LLP and Robert Murphy QVRM TD MRICS, director investment property group, City Surveyor's Department, City of London. The New York panel moderated by Michael Davidson, senior advisor, global workplace people strategy and client management, Colliers includes Bob Knakal, senior managing director, head of New York Private Capital Group, JLL Capital Markets.
October 25, 2023
Fordham Law Alumni in Real Estate (FLARE) & Fordham REI Panel Discussion
FLARE & REI to hold panel discussion on Changing Skylines: The Future of NYC Real Estate Through 2030 and Beyond. Featured real estate thought leaders include Paul Quinlan, senior managing director and CFO of Blackstone RE Group, Laurie A. Grasso, partner and Co-Chair of the Global RE Practice at Hunton Andrews Kruth, and Moses Gates, VP, Housing & Neighborhood Planning at the Regional Planning Association. Moderator: Peter Korda, former Partner & Co-Chair of Structured & Real Estate Finance Group at Seyfath Shaw LLP.
October, 17, 2023
The MBA of NY Awards Scholarships to Three Fordham REI Graduate Students
The Mortgage Bankers Association of New York Scholarship Foundation awarded scholarships to three Fordham REI graduate students; Shoshana Cuevas, Giselle Parades, and Roger Reichard. MBANY Scholarship Foundation Chair Richard Carr, "I am so proud of this year's class of recipients. Each one of them has demonstrated exceptional talent, resilience, and a commitment to making a postive difference in their respective fields."
September 7, 2023
Annual Fordham REI Awards Gala Held at 3Eleven Hudson Yards
Jeff Levine, MaryAnne Gilmartin, and Nicholas Fusco were awarded Groudbreakers, Visionary, and Titan of Tomorrow awards at the annual June Gala. Proceeds from the Gala support the Builidng Futures Scholarship Fund to provide needs-based scholarships to NYC Metro area students.
June 1, 2023
Congratulations to Fordham REI May 2023 Graduates!
A well-deserved congratulations goes to the Fordham REI Master's of Science in Real Estate, Real Estate Development, and Construction Management, as well as Advanced Graduate Certificate graduates!
May 20, 2023
Bob Knakal, Paul Massey, and Blair Welch Discuss the lastest on Real Estate Capital Markets
Bob Knakal, Senior Managing Director, Head of NY Private Capital Group, JLL Capital Markets, Paul Massey, CEO, B6 Real Estate Advisors, and Blair Welch, Co-Founding Partner, Slate Asset Management join moderator Lou Mirando, Founder and CEO, The Streamline Group, in a lively discussion on the state of the industry and the real estate capital markets.
April 26, 2023
Anthony Pastore, Fordham MSCM adjunct instructor, featured in Airport Voice 2023 Aviation Power List
Anthony Pastore, senior vice president, AECOM Tishman, makes the 2023 Aviation Power List for his successful project oversight of the New Terminal One at JFK airport.
April 20, 2023
David Martinson, Fordham MSCM adjunct instructor, featured in Blueprint magazine
As Global Head of Workplace Experience, Design and Construction Management at Wells Fargo, David is overseeing a new $570 million Wells Fargo campus build in Irving, Texas. The project slated for completion in 2025 will deliver workplaces meant to inspire creativity, facilitate collaboration, elevate performance, increase efficienicy and attract and retain top talent and clients. Blueprint article.
April 19, 2023
Fordham REI Names James Whelan, president of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY), to Executive Advisory Council
James Whelan will collaborate with the EAC on enhancing the student experience, increasing awareness of the expanding Fordham program offerings, and the growing enrollment on REI's Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan, NY. He joins council members from UBS, JLL, Brown Harris Stevens, Douglaston Cos., Simone Management and Related Cos.
March 18, 2023
Fordham REI hosts LAI NYC Chapter presenting the Latest on Local Law 97
The LAI Land Economics Society New York Chapter presents Tina Larsson, CEO, The Folson Group, Liz McCormick, Sr. Director of Energy Services for Pennoni's MEP Energy Division, and Christopher M. Tarnok, partner, DL Partners as they join moderator Todd M. Hay, PE, CME, Pennoni Regional Vice President for a discussion on the requirements and impacts of LL97.
March 16, 2023
The Anatomy of a Deal: A Fireside Chat featuring MaryAnne Gilmartin with Michael Patrick Davidson
MaryAnne Gilmartin, founder and CEO of MAG Partners, discusses how she founded her own development company and assembled a $1B pipeline in New York City and a 14M square foot transformational masterplan project in Baltimore. Gilmartin and moderator Michael Patrick Davidson also discuss navigating market forces and disruptioins, and seeing opportunities along ones career trajectory.
March 2, 2023
Fordham Real Estate Institute Student Association Tours Olympia DUMBO
Jonathan Rubin, Director of Acquisitions, Fortis and Casey Drake, Director of Marketing, Fortis explain the Olympia DUMBO development process to Fordham REI graduate students.
February 28, 2023
Fordham REI and the Kyiv School of Economics Examine the Urban Redevelopment of War-Torn Ukraine
REI and KSE held a virtual symposium to examine the foundation and future of commercial real estate activities in the aftermath of the war in Ukraine. The symposium featured a presentation by the Counselors of Real Estate, whose Consulting Corps advises towns and cities in the aftermath of destruction.
February 14, 2023
Titan Talks. In Their Own Words: Lessons from Industry Trailblazers
Bess Freedman, CEO Brown Harris Stevens and member of the Fordham REI Executive Advisory Council launches Titan Talks with special guest Barbara Corcoran, founder of the Corcoran Group and executive producer of Shark Tank.
February 13, 2023
Watch Now: How did you get Shark Tank to reconsider you after initial rejection?
Watch Now: Do you see yourself as a pioneer?
Construction Industry Insights
Design, construction, and development industry veteran John V. Immitt, AIA, RA, shares his thoughts on leadership and behaviors for success with Ravi Bhatia, Fordham REI adjunct instructor.
February 7, 2023
Construction Industry Insights
Ravi Bhatia talks 1-on-1 with Christella Xu, President of Elite Builders & Management and Fordham University alumna
January 3, 2023
Bess Freedman, CEO, Brown Harris Stevens, Joins Fordham REI Executive Advisory Council
Freedman set to launch Titan Talks featuring prominent real estate leaders sharing business strategies and practical advise for aspiring professionals
December 18, 2022
Serge Reda, Fordham REI, and Jose Cruz, Integrated Technologies, Discuss What Comes After Single-Purpose Proptech
The lessons learned from Proptech 1.0 and 2.0 suggest collaboration and universal integration with Proptech 3.0
December 16, 2022
Fordham REI EAC Visionary Series presents Solving the Affordable Housing Crisis
Visionaries from multiple sectors share their views on how the affordable housing landscape has changed and what it will take to make city living affordable.
December 2, 2022
Fordham REI Opens Doors for Construction Management Students
Fordham REI CM students hired by AECOM Tishman for projects at John F. Kennedy International Airport
December 1, 2022
Robert Arnone, Fordham REI MSRE alumnus, publishes article on migration and the effect on communities.
Friday, November 25, 2022
James Nelson, Principal and Head of Tri-State Investment Sales, Avison Young hosts FREISA members
James Nelson shares industry insights from his new book The Insider's Edge to Real Estate Investing
November 17, 2022
Construction Industry Insights
Ravi Bhatia talks 1-on-1 with John M. Comack, CEO of Green Energy Technology (GET) and JGM Construction Development
November 12, 2022
FREISA Members Get Tour of 130 William Street, in the heart of the Financial District
Serge Reda's 1-on-1 with James Nelson, Avison Young
Construction Industry Insights
Ravi Bhatia talks 1-on-1 with Mehdi Nourbakhsh, PhD, AI innovation consultant in the AEC Industry
October 21, 2022
Fordham REI and Lambda Alpha International NY Chapter (LAI) present
Philip A. Sanchez, Herrick, Feinstein LLP talks Eminent Domain
Thursday, October 20, 2022
FREISA Members Get Tour of 660 Fifth Avenue
REI graduate students got a first-hand look at Brookfield's $400M redevelopment of 660 Fifth Avenue, a 39-story, fully renovated glass facade office building.
Friday, October 7, 2022
View Here
Fordham REI and the Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) present a panel discussion
Sustaining the Future of Real Estate: Sticks, Bricks, and Capital
Thursday, October 6, 2022
FREISA Members Get Tour of Washington Heights' Radio Hotel and Tower
REI graduate students tour Youngwoo & Associates' full-service, Lego-like boutique Radio Hotel and Tower designed by Dutch firm MVRDV.
Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Fordham REI Executive Advisory Council presents a Visionary Series panel discussion
Rising Interest Rates and its Impact on CRE (in-person and simulcast)
Tuesday, July 26, 2022