STRIVE January 2018 | Page 28

months before I graduated . I was stunned by this experience . I was stunned that this industry and its opportunities remained hidden from so many . I was stunned by the support provided by companies and trade organizations to advance this career path . But above all , I was stunned by how few of these university programs existed and how few other students had the opportunities I was afforded . In this swirling culmination of industry demand , industry support , and my experiences , I knew I wanted to play a role in changing that narrative .
LOVE WHERE YOU LEARN
Upon graduation , I was recruited by Weidner Apartment Homes and offered a management position in either their Seattle or Anchorage market . Aside from my heart ’ s immediate attachment to Alaska , I knew the company had recently donated $ 4 million to the University of Alaska Anchorage ( UAA ) to fund a real estate management program and I was excited about the potential to get involved .
Shortly after moving to Anchorage , I volunteered my time to consult on the development of the program ’ s curriculum and began teaching in an adjunct position . In the fall of 2013 , the Weidner Property Management and Real Estate Program officially launched , offering a property management and real estate concentration under the BBA , Management degree .
I was hired into a full-time position with the university , and charged with teaching and directing the program .
Throughout the last four years , the program has grown to 70 students , built an advisory board of local and national industry representatives , given out more than $ 100,000 in scholarships , partnered with trade organizations to offer industry designations and licensing , enabled students to travel to conferences around the nation , and organized networking platforms that have led to 100 % placement for our graduates .
Our value proposition to students is unique . We have an opportunity-rich program , in an AACSB-accredited school , in a state with unmatched natural beauty , with a model for education that positions our students well for their future .
LOVE HOW YOU LEARN
In today ’ s world , education is less about access to information and more about processing and applying information . Similarly , it is my view that an instructor ’ s value and the value of a degree is less about the dissemination of information – the “ sage on the stage ” – and more about creating a culture of learning , proactively advising and coaching students through their academic and professional development . In addition to providing content knowledge , truly influential programs create a sense of community , inspire passion , and encourage immersion well beyond the time spent in the classroom . That
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