The Goizueta Business School at Emory University in Atlanta has received a $5 million gift from Billy Harbert, chairman and CEO of the construction company BL Harbert International, to establish a center focused on real estate education.
The newly announced BL Harbert Real Estate Center will be designed to equip students to excel as real estate entrepreneurs and practitioners. In a statement, the university said it would use research, community engagement, and curriculum, the center to “advance innovations in the field by increasing Goizueta’s influence as a hub for engagement, collaboration, and entrepreneurship.” A national search is being undertaken to recruit a professor to lead the real estate program.
“Students have access to hands-on learning both in and outside the classroom that strengthens their skill sets and resumes,” the university stated. “Through the Real Estate Private Equity Fund, students will manage real-world investments by identifying undervalued REITs or those with consistent returns, and by researching real estate fixed income instruments that present strong investment opportunities. Goizueta will continue to offer its Real Estate career trek to New York, providing students a unique opportunity to meet with top firms, explore career paths, and strengthen professional networks nationwide. Moreover, the center will facilitate internships, case competitions, conferences, and real-world projects with industry partners. The new center will capitalize on Atlanta’s thriving real estate market, which is rapidly expanding with commercial and residential developments.”
Photo: Billy Harbert
