Student Support

The Sanderford Speaker Series introduces UVA students to firms and their roles across diverse markets through innovative programming, presentations by leaders in the industry, and in-depth discussions about careers and cases.  The year-round series also creates networking opportunities, linking career stewardship and industry engagement. 

The series was named for Drew Sanderford (1982-2023), inaugural Director of the Center for Real Estate, Robert M. White Professor in Real Estate Finance, and two-time UVA alumnus. Drew’s extraordinary leadership transformed the Center into a vibrant interdisciplinary hub, bringing together alumni, students, and industry leaders through a variety of initiatives. The Sanderford Speaker series will serve as a lasting testament to Drew's passion for UVA students and their personal and professional development.

Keep an eye on our Upcoming Events area of the website. 

All UVA students are encouraged and invited to participate in the Center's annual conference, held on the second Friday of November each fall.  The day-long event attracts UVA alumni from across the country and all areas of the real estate industry, faculty, current students, and friends of the Center passionate about networking and life-long learning. A hallmark of the conference is our "Flash Mentoring" program through which students and alumni gather in small groups for engaging conversations about careers in real estate and the skills required to succeed.

Supporting career development and industry engagement, the Center hosts the Real Estate Group on the University’s mentoring platform, Virginia Alumni Mentoring (VAM). VAM promotes meaningful connections and conversations between alumni and students, creating space for alumni and industry partners to share their knowledge and experience. VAM also helps students to begin building their professional network. Students and alumni partners can tailor their engagement and communicate through online chat messaging, connect to UVA-affiliated communities through group membership, or seek project-based learning opportunities through the VAM bridges project. In addition to supporting the Real Estate Group, the Center provides resources for both students and mentors to help them make the most of the experience. If you are interested in joining and serving as a mentor, visit the VAM homepage and click on the “Join Our Community” button.

Argus training helps students build financial modeling and analytical skills. The Center facilitates Argus training at least once per year through VUREC and the Darden Real Estate Club.

Students interested in Argus training, typically held on a Friday and Saturday during the fall semester, should contact the Center. Space is limited.

Check out our upcoming events for future training opportunities.

George A. Overstreet Jr. Outstanding Student Award

This award recognizes one UVA undergraduate student and one UVA graduate student who have demonstrated sincere commitment to pursuing a career in real estate and have made an outsized contribution to the mission of the pan-University Center. Nominated by faculty members from across Grounds, the awardees are selected by the Center. The award reflects the infectious curiosity and significant contributions of Professor George Overstreet.

• 2024 winners - Christie Carpenter Ramírez de Arellano (Darden '24) and Demond Morris (McIntire '24)
• 2023 winners - Erik Smith (Darden ’23) and Hannah Yi (McIntire ’23)

Coursework

The University of Virginia offers several programs for undergraduate students interested in real estate-related coursework, including the Real Estate Minor and Real Estate Track at the McIntire School of Commerce and the Construction Engineering and Management Concentration at the School of Engineering and Applied Science. Graduate coursework includes the Real Estate Development + Design Certificate at the School of Architecture and real estate electives at both the Law School and Darden School of Business.

We welcome you to explore the links below, and reach out to the appropriate faculty and staff from each program for more information.