Mission
The Michigan Real Estate Mentorship Program was established to cultivate genuine relationships between real estate students and alumni. The program leverages the country’s largest real estate alumni network to drive lasting impact for students on campus and later in their professional careers.
Founded by alumnus Jordan Davis, Director of Affordable Housing at Related Ross and a past President of the Michigan Real Estate Club, the program’s intent is ensuring all Michigan students interested in pursing a career in real estate can receive practical, unfiltered advice from young and seasoned alumni in every discipline of the industry.
Program
The program was built on a simple but powerful premise: mentorship should be meaningful, consistent, and rooted in long-term professional development. Too often, networking opportunities are informal or episodic — a single introduction, a brief conversation, a moment of access without continuity. This program was designed to offer something more enduring. Every participating student is paired one-to-one with a dedicated alumni mentor, creating a structured relationship grounded in sustained dialogue, accountability, and professional growth.
Real estate is inherently multidisciplinary. The Program reflects this reality by pairing students with professionals across disciplines and markets, offering insight not only into career pathways, but into the analytical frameworks, leadership decisions, and market perspectives that define institutional real estate.
The program operates on an annual cycle with a deliberate and thoughtful matching process. Students and alumni complete detailed applications outlining professional interests, geographic preferences, and long-term goals. Pairings are made strategically to maximize alignment and compatibility. Once matched, participants commit to regular engagement throughout the year. Conversations may focus on technical skills, industry exposure, interview preparation, market analysis, or broader leadership development — but the expectation of consistency remains central.
At its core, the Michigan Real Estate Mentorship Program is not transactional. Its purpose extends beyond helping students secure internships or first roles. The objective is to cultivate enduring professional relationships that continue long after graduation. The long-term vision is to serve as the connective infrastructure for Michigan’s real estate alumni network.
In doing so, the program honors a broader tradition at Michigan: developing “Leaders and Best in Real Estate,” where alumni invest in the next generation of talent, cultivating a true community that grows stronger through intentional connection.
We connect students and alumni to build real, lasting relationships.
The Michigan Real Estate Mentorship Program was established to cultivate genuine relationships between real estate students and alumni. The program leverages the country’s largest real estate alumni network to drive lasting impact for students on campus and later in their professional careers.
Alumni Testimonials
“To serve as a resource for the next generation of Michigan real estate professionals is not only a privilege, but one of the most rewarding parts of my post-college experience.”
— Spencer Dziuba (BBA ’23), Real Estate Investment Banking Analyst, CenterCap Group
“I can’t help but wish a program like this had existed during my time as a student. Having someone who faced the same uncertainties and emerged on the other side would have provided invaluable guidance and helped alleviate much of the unnecessary stress I experienced trying to navigate the industry alone.”
— Josh Klein (BBA ’22), Associate, Blackstone Strategic Partners
“What makes the program exceptional is the depth of commitment on both sides. Mentors invest time, share candid insights, open doors, and help students think critically about their goals. In turn, students gain clarity, confidence, and a deeper understanding of how to build a purposeful career in real estate.”
— Jaime Harris (BBA ’03), Chief Strategy Officer, Harris Point Chicago
“The Weiser Mentorship Program creates a much-needed pathway for students outside the traditional business track to gain a foundational real estate specific education, access to mentorship, industry insight, and career opportunities.”
— Brett Geffner (BA ’18), Vice President, Vanbarton Group
“Programs like this are important because they bridge the gap between the classroom and the real world of real estate.”
— Sam Schneider (BS ‘00), Managing Partner, Imperium Capital
Student Testimonials
“The Mentorship Program replaces surface-level networking with genuine relationships, creating a Michigan real estate community that feels powerful in reach, accessible in opportunity, and personal in connection.”
— Jillian Schlom (LSA ‘27 - Economics and Minor in Real Estate), Division I Student Athlete - Women’s Water Polo, Incoming Summer Analyst, JPMorganChase in Chicago
“Few institutions can match Michigan’s ability to provide students with direct access to leaders who are both accomplished in their field and deeply invested in the next generation’s success. The Mentorship Program stands as a defining example of that commitment in action.”
— Henry Hunt (Taubman College ‘26 - Urban Technology and Minor in Real Estate), President of Michigan Real Estate Club, Incoming Infrastructure Deal Advisory Associate at KPMG in New York
“The Weiser Mentorship Program really lets students tap into that network. The Michigan community is huge and people genuinely want to stay connected and help students learn about the industry before entering the workforce.”
— Alyssa Lieberman (Ross School of Business ‘26 and Minor in Real Estate), President of Michigan Real Estate Club, Student Director for Weiser Center, Incoming Financial Analyst at CBRE in Chicago
“My ability to work confidently with so many people today stems directly from my experience as a mentee during my junior year, where I learned how to communicate openly, ask thoughtful questions, and build genuine connections with my mentor.”
— Mirna Rose Hanna (Taubman ‘26 - Urban Technology and Minor in Real Estate), Incoming Development Analyst at Dominium in Dallas
“It is safe to say the Weiser Center for Real Estate’s Mentorship Program has been a cornerstone of my professional development as a student at Michigan. This experience has been a real differentiator in my college experience.”
— Ethan Marcus (BBA ‘26), Co-President of Ross Real Estate Fund, Incoming Analyst - Special Situations Real Estate at Bain Capital in New York
“I walked away with multiple pages worth of notes, lessons, and pieces of advice that I'll always keep in the back of my mind. This was the first time I was able to build a genuine relationship with a senior manager in the industry and, in a low stakes environment, be able to talk candidly and freely about the industry and learn more about what it takes to succeed.”
— Kabir Singh (BBA ‘25), Associate at Lantern Real Estate Advisors
“I learned about the program through a faculty member in Michigan’s Athletic Department and immediately submitted my application, hoping for the opportunity. I didn’t know it then, but that decision would become one of the most impactful I’ve made during my time at Michigan.”
— Philippe Lapointe (Kinesiology ‘24 and Graduate Certificate in Real Estate Development, ‘25), Division I Student Athlete - Men’s Ice Hockey, Capital Markets Analyst at Walker & Dunlop in Chicago