Mission
The University of 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.
Developed in partnership with Michigan’s Weiser Center for Real Estate, the program’s intent is ensuring all 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
Each student is paired one-to-one with an alumni mentor, creating a relationship that develops over the course of a full year. The goal isn’t just to give advice — it’s to build a real connection. Over time, those conversations grow from early career questions into deeper discussions around judgment, leadership, and how people actually make decisions in this business.
Real estate is inherently multidisciplinary, and the program reflects that. Students are paired with professionals across asset classes, roles, and markets, giving them exposure not just to different career paths, but to how the industry actually operates.
We run the program on an annual cycle with a thoughtful matching process. Both students and alumni share their interests, goals, and preferences, and we pair people carefully. Once matched, there’s an expectation of staying engaged throughout the year. Some conversations are technical, some focus on interviews or career moves, and others are simply about learning how to navigate the industry — but the consistency is what makes it meaningful.
At its core, the program is about building relationships that last beyond a single year — connections that continue well past graduation and become part of how the Michigan real estate community stays connected over time.
Michigan Difference
What truly separates Michigan from other programs is our passionate alumni network.
There is a genuine pride in the Michigan community, and it translates into action. Alumni don’t just sign up — they stay engaged, they invest real time, and they actively look for ways to help. The guidance students receive is honest, direct, and unfiltered. It comes from people who genuinely care about helping the next generation achieve their dreams.
A defining strength is the range of perspectives within the alumni network. Students are paired with experienced leaders who bring long-term perspective, but they also have access to younger alumni who were in their exact position just a few years ago. The program also reflects the broader Michigan ecosystem. Mentors come from across the university — Ross, LSA, Taubman, Engineering, Public Policy — bringing different paths into the same industry. That diversity of background and perspective is part of what makes the network so dynamic and valuable.
Students are encouraged to stay in touch with their mentors as they move through the program, often building multiple meaningful relationships over time. By the time they graduate, many have developed a network of Michigan alumni they can rely on — not just for advice, but for ongoing support as they begin their careers. That continuity is what makes the program truly powerful. It compounds.
At the end of the day, what students gain here is hard to replicate: direct access to leaders and rising professionals across the industry who genuinely want to give back, and who are committed to helping them succeed. That’s the Michigan difference — and it’s something you only find here.
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