What We Do For Students
The Samuel Zell and Robert Lurie Real Estate Center at the Wharton School was named in recognition of its permanent endowment by Samuel Zell in 1998. The Center was established in 1983 to promote excellence in real estate education and research. Our members are leading real estate professionals from the United States and abroad. The Center brings academia and the leaders of industry together to create a unique resource for students, faculty, and members.
Real Estate Clubs
We fund five University of Pennsylvania Real Estate Clubs:
- Wharton MBA
- Wharton Undergraduates
- Penn Law School
- Weitzman School of Design
- Penn Students Women in Real Estate (PSWiRE)
We work closely and meet regularly with club leadership. We run a variety of programs that benefit students who are members of one of the five real estate clubs.
Helfand Bluhm Fellowship
A flagship program, the Helfand/Bluhm Career Support Fellowship Program is a truly one-of-a-kind program that helps level the playing field for our diverse students and so enriches their studies, careers, and the real estate industry.
The Fall & Spring Members’ Meetings
Through the Real Estate Clubs, students are invited to attend both the Spring and Fall Members’ Meetings. These Meetings bring together hundreds of real estate professionals, academics and students for a program involving panels and speakers relevant to the real estate profession. Every year at the Spring Members’ Meeting, awards are given to deserving students who have exhibited strong leadership and academic prowess. To view a complete list of the recipients for 2024, please click here.
The Ballard Executive Luncheon Program
Each year the Center invites a number of executives to come speak to our student club members as part of the Ballard Program, a unique and valuable opportunity for students to meet with industry leaders. The speaker and students talk over an informal lunch provided by the Center. Afterwards, the speaker typically offers office hours to individual students who meet with the professional for one-on-one sessions of 10 to 20 minutes.
The Schlager Lecture Series
The Eric and Beth Schlager Lecture Series was established in 2006 in order to enable the Center to bring in outstanding real estate entrepreneurs to deliver lectures to the Wharton community about their unique experiences. The Lecture Series provides our community with an invaluable opportunity to hear from and interact with these notable entrepreneurs. Past speakers include:
- Thomas Barrack, Colony Capital
- Sam Zell, Equity Group Investments
- Jeff Blau, Related Companies
- Roy Hilton March, Eastdil Secured
- Keith Gelb, Rockpoint Group
- Doug Abrams, Abrams Capital Group
- John Grayken, Lone Star Funds
- Spencer B. Haber, H/2 Capital Partners LLC
- Matthew Lustig, Lazard
- Ronald J. Kravit, Cerberus Capital Management
- MaryAnne Gilmartin, MAG Partners
- James Cohen, Hudson Capital Properties
The Career Mentor Program
Career mentors are members of the Zell/Lurie Real Estate Center who have volunteered to share their advice and expertise with students, speaking with them in person or on the phone at least twice per year. Some of our mentors are Penn/Wharton alumni and some are not. Last year we matched 81 mentors with 115 students.
Career Fair
The Center’s annual in-person Real Estate Career Fair and virtual Career Connections fair annually attract executives from the nation’s leading real estate and financial firms, as well as hundreds of students.
Student Resume Book
The Zell/Lurie Resume Book is a list of the University’s best and brightest seeking summer internships and full-time positions in real estate. Our members find qualified applicants for positions here.
Job Postings · Competitions · Scholarships
We regularly send out postings for internships and full-time positions to the club presidents or send them directly to the students. We gather and send information to the clubs about competitions that are available as well as scholarships relevant to club members. Additionally, in the Spring Zell/Lurie awards many scholarships on their own to club members.
Resources
The Center promotes excellence in education through its programs and its many offerings provide students with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge of the real estate industry and networks.