Mission
The Michigan Real Estate Mentorship Program was founded to strengthen and formalize the University of Michigan’s real estate community through intentional, structured mentorship. What began as a focused effort to create deeper alumni engagement has grown into one of the most expansive and active collegiate real estate mentorship networks in the country.
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.
Impact
Since its inception in 2024, the Program has expanded rapidly, reflecting both student demand and alumni commitment. Today, it facilitates over 200 active student and mentor pairings annually, connects participants across dozens of real estate disciplines and major markets nationwide. Alumni mentors represent leading platforms in real estate capital markets, investment, private equity, banking, development, architecture, property management, urban planning, construction, advisory, and more. Students have gained trusted advisors who provide perspective during pivotal career decisions, while alumni connect meaningfully with a pipeline of talented and motivated future industry leaders.
Alumni Testimonials
Spencer Dziuba (BBA ’23), Real Estate Investment Banking Analyst, CenterCap Group
From the moment I was paired with my mentee, Ben Norouzi, I could tell that a great deal of thought and intention had gone into creating these matches. Ben's strong interest in both finance and real estate, and his curiosity about how those disciplines intersect in an investment banking context, immediately resonated with my own experience at The CenterCap Group, a boutique real estate investment bank. I was grateful for the chance to share insights and guidance from my own journey.
When a position opened at my firm for an incoming full-time analyst, Ben immediately came to mind. He exemplified the qualities we look for: smart, driven, and grounded in the values we share as Wolverines. After a few rounds of interviews, Ben received an offer and accepted. Our team is thrilled to welcome him aboard.
I truly cannot overstate the impact of this program. To serve as a resource for the next generation of Michigan professionals is not only a privilege—it’s one of the most rewarding parts of my post-college experience. I’m incredibly grateful to Jordan Davis for inviting me to be part of this initiative and for the incredible work he’s doing.
Josh Klein (BBA ’22), Associate, Blackstone Strategic Partners
As a former President of Michigan’s Real Estate Club, being invited to serve as a mentor for the Weiser Center for Real Estate’s Mentorship Program has been both an incredible honor and a deeply rewarding experience. I had the privilege of working with a student navigating the challenging real estate recruitment cycle — a process I remember grappling with myself as an underclassman. Beyond helping him prepare for interviews, we spent time exploring the broader, and often more daunting, questions: Which career paths truly aligned with his strengths and interests? What did he ultimately want his professional journey to look like? Through sharing my own experiences, lessons learned, and frameworks for evaluating opportunities, I helped him not only sharpen his interview skills but also ask the critical questions — of others and of himself — necessary to chart a thoughtful and fulfilling career path.
Reflecting on this experience, I can’t help but wish a program like this had existed during my time as a student. Having a mentor — someone who had walked the same path, 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. The Mentorship Program is a transformative addition to Michigan’s real estate landscape, strengthening the program’s reputation and ensuring that the next generation of students is more prepared, confident, and informed than ever before.
I am excited and committed to serving as a mentor for years to come and am sincerely grateful to Jordan Davis for the opportunity to be part of such an impactful initiative.
Brett Geffner (BA ’18), Vice President, Vanbarton Group
As an alum who now serves as a mentor in the Weiser Center for Real Estate’s Mentorship Program, it’s incredibly meaningful for me to support students who are navigating challenges I remember all too well. Having graduated from LSA, I found it extremely difficult to break into the real estate industry during my time as a student. Many of the key opportunities—internships, networking events, job postings, and student organizations—were only accessible to business school majors, often requiring a Ross-specific ID. It was frustrating to feel so eager to learn and get involved yet be shut out of the very resources that could have helped me get started.
That’s why being part of the Mentorship Program now, as a professional in the field, is so important to me. 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.
I greatly wish a program like this had existed when I was on campus. It’s truly an honor to now be that resource for others, and to help level the playing field for Wolverines who might otherwise be overlooked. The Weiser Mentorship Program is not just building careers—it's opening doors that were once closed for so many.
Student Testimonials
Ethan Marcus (BBA ’26), Incoming Analyst at Bain Capital Special Situations & Co-President, Ross Real Estate Fund
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 Ross.
I was paired with Michael D’Alessio, a Principal at Blackstone, who brought a truly global perspective to our conversations, having worked across the U.S., Australia, and Canada over his career. We talk very often and have an open line of communication; his “door is always open.” It feels like a real two-way street; he checks in on me just as much as I reach out to him. I genuinely feel like he cares about my growth. He has helped me prepare for important interviews, strategize for career conversations, and think through new ideas. Learning from someone who managed assets across major global markets, evaluated REITs during market dislocations, and adapted to new environments like Sydney and Toronto has made me think more broadly about international business and real estate investing.
This mentorship has been a real differentiator in my Ross experience and shows how deeply committed the Weiser Center is to connecting students with the broader professional world. I cannot thank Jordan Davis enough for launching the program and investing the effort and energy to make it the best in the country.
Kabir Singh (BBA ’25)
The Weiser Center for Real Estate’s Mentorship Program was one of the best real estate offerings I've had the opportunity to participate in during my four years at Michigan. One of the most challenging aspects of the industry is finding ways to build genuine relationships with mentors working in the spaces we ourselves are interested in (e.g., private equity, private credit, development, REITs).
I was excited to learn I had been paired with Andrew Felman, a Vice President at Meadow Partners. We hit it off immediately. We consistently speak once or twice a month and discuss topics ranging from the state of the market (e.g., capital markets, acquisitions, fundraising) to how to perform well as a junior-level employee (e.g., advice to stand out during internships/your first-year). I've 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/freely about the industry and learn more about what it takes to succeed.
More broadly, I've heard of several friends that even secured internships or full-time roles through the Mentorship Program. It has been an amazing way to engage hundreds of students and Michigan alumni in the real estate industry, facilitate relationship-building in a low-stakes environment, and improve students' confidence regardless of their position – from a freshman with limited real estate background to a senior entering the industry full-time.
Jordan Davis has done a phenomenal job ideating and developing this program from scratch. It is a great way to keep alumni in touch with everything “real estate” at Michigan, and I 1,000% will recommend this to all students going forward.
Philippe Lapointe (BA ’24, Graduate Certificate - Real Estate Development ’25), Capital Markets Analyst, Walker & Dunlop
I joined the Weiser Center for Real Estate’s Mentorship Program to connect with as many professionals in the real estate industry as possible. As a graduate student-athlete at Michigan, gaining traditional work experience is uniquely challenging. During the fall and winter, we juggle rigorous academic demands with athletic competition; in the spring and summer, we train and often take classes to prepare for the upcoming season. As a result, internships are rarely feasible unless they offer flexible, remote opportunities.
I was fortunate to have completed a remote internship one summer and worked as a research assistant the following year. Still, I knew I needed more exposure to the industry. I learned about the mentorship 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.
Shortly after, I was accepted into the program and paired with Jordan Davis. From our very first virtual meeting, it was clear how special this experience would be. Jordan was thoughtful, engaged, and genuinely enthusiastic about helping me grow. We spent our early sessions getting to know one another and identifying my biggest needs: financial modeling exposure and expanded industry relationships. Jordan guided me through every aspect of professional development. We worked on my resume, refined my email communication, and maximizing one-on-one discussions with industry leaders. He even helped identify real estate modeling opportunities I could pursue during the school year.
What stands out most is the confidence Jordan helped instill in me. With his support, I began building stronger relationships with Michigan alumni and approaching outreach effectively. His mentorship played a significant role in helping me land a full-time role as a Capital Markets Analyst at Walker & Dunlop in Chicago.
This experience exemplified the strength of the Michigan network and reminded me how powerful support and mentorship can be. I hope to one day pay it forward by mentoring Michigan students just as Jordan did for me.