CREW Network Foundation and CREW Network Foundation Canada Grants $340,000 in Scholarships to University Students
Lawrence, Kansas, USA – Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) Network Foundation and CREW Network Foundation Canada have selected 50 university students to receive the equivalent of $340,000 USD in academic scholarships, in addition to valuable network and career building opportunities. CREW Network Foundation’s scholarship programs have granted $2.3 million USD to 386 female students at 149 universities across 42 states/provinces in the United States and Canada since 2008.
The scholarship program supports female students as they pursue university-level education that will lead to careers in commercial real estate. The selected undergraduate students (32) will receive $5,000 USD (or the Canadian dollar equivalent) for tuition and books, and graduate students (18) will receive $10,000.
The students will also receive a six-month mentorship with a CREW Visionary, a 24-month CREW Network student membership, a complimentary registration to the 2026 CREW Network Convention, September 23-25 in Miami, Florida, and a $1,000 travel stipend for the convention.
“It is a privilege to recognize this outstanding group of scholars and welcome them to the CREW Network Foundation community,” said Marie McLucas, Chief Financial Officer, Primax Properties, and 2026 CREW Network Foundation President. “These scholarships are more than financial assistance—they are an investment in the future of our industry. Through mentorship, professional development, networking opportunities, and leadership experiences, we are helping prepare the next generation of women leaders in commercial real estate. I am deeply grateful to our donors and supporters whose generosity makes these opportunities possible and continues to strengthen the future of our industry.”
Scholarship funds are supported by the Linda Hollemon Scholarship Endowment and Hall of Fame giving program, as well as personal and corporate contributions.
Listed below are the six CREW Network Foundation Canada scholarship recipients followed by 44 recipients of the U.S. based CREW Network Foundation.
Olivia Butzelaar
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Current institution: Queen's University
Focus of Study: Law
Butzelaar is entering her final year of law school at Queen's University. Prior to attending law school, Butzelaar received an Honors Bachelor of Commerce degree from the UBC Sauder School of Business and interned on the marketing team at one of Vancouver's premier real estate development, construction and asset management companies. As a law student, Butzelaar completed an internship with the in-house legal department at one of Canada's largest family-operated, vertically integrated real estate companies. She also served as a student case worker with the Queen's Business Law Clinic. Currently, Butzelaar is completing her summer articles at Borden Ladner Gervais LLP.
Erica Chan
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Current institution: Ivey Business School at Western University
Focus of Study: Finance
Chan is a senior at the Ivey Business School pursuing an honors Bachelor of Business Administration degree. She serves as co-president of the Ivey Real Estate Club and co-founder of the Western Women in Business Club, and previously held a director role with the Ivey Asset Management Club. Chan is currently an investments summer analyst at Oxford Properties, building on previous internship experience with the asset management team at Crestpoint Real Estate Investments. Upon graduation, she hopes to build a career in real estate investments and capital markets.
Chloe Cheung
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Current institution: University of British Columbia
Focus of Study: Finance and Real Estate
Cheung is a third-year student in the Bachelor of Commerce program at the University of British Columbia, majoring in finance and real estate. She interned in corporate finance and finance transformation at QuadReal Property Group, where she was selected as a finalist in the company's AI Innovation Challenge and presented investment recommendations to the CEO. Cheung has developed a strong foundation in finance and investing through a variety of clubs and competitions across campus and serves as president of the UBC Product Management Club, leading a 300-member organization. She was recognized by her faculty with the Dan Gardiner Outstanding New Student Award for academic performance and community leadership. She aspires to build a career in commercial real estate upon graduation.
Veronika Dorokhin
Hometown: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Current institution: Université de Montréal
Focus of Study: Architecture
Dorokhin is pursuing a Bachelor of Architecture at the Université de Montréal after earning a bachelor's degree in interior design. She served as sponsorship coordinator for her faculty's Interior Design Graduation Exhibition while completing internships and freelance work with architecture and interior design firms. Through those experiences, she contributed to commercial and residential projects while developing expertise in design development, project coordination and the early stages of project planning. Inspired by the impact thoughtfully designed commercial spaces can have on businesses and communities, Dorokhin aspires to become a project manager specializing in commercial real estate development, leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver innovative and impactful projects.
Gul Karami
Hometown: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Current Institution: University of Calgary, Haskayne School of Business
Focus of Study: Business Administration
Karami is a Master of Business Administration candidate at the Haskayne School of Business with a background in customer experience strategy and organizational development. She serves as chair of the Employee Engagement Committee at the City of Calgary, where she works as a customer strategy specialist, and on the regional Ismaili Grants and Review Board, focusing on property repairs and maintenance audit work. During her time at Haskayne, she has participated in case competitions and will represent the school in the 2027 John Molson Competition. She also collaborated with the MBA Society to establish the Impact Award in honor of fellow student David Wu. Karami is committed to fostering inclusive communities and servant leadership and aspires to apply her MBA toward a career in strategy consulting.
Sara Petkova
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Current Institution: Simon Fraser University
Focus of Study: Business Administration, Marketing, and Business Analytics
Petkova is a fourth-year student at Simon Fraser University, majoring in Marketing with a focus in Business Analytics. She discovered her passion for commercial real estate through the SFU Real Estate Club, where she served as a Market Associate. Building on that interest, she completed the Beedie Urban Development Program, an 11-week program focused on real estate fundamentals and professional development. Petkova later completed a marketing internship at Rize Alliance Properties, where she continues to work part-time alongside her studies. Beyond her academic and professional experience, she is actively involved in the CREW Vancouver community, serving as an SFU CREW Student Ambassador and volunteering for the 2026 CREW Golf Tournament.
Freya Batra
Hometown: London, United Kingdom
Current institution: Stanford University
Focus of Study: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Batra recently graduated from University College London and will attend Stanford University to pursue a master's degree in civil and environmental engineering, specializing in sustainable design and construction. During the past four years, she completed five internships across insurance, banking and private equity/real estate investment. She is also the COO and co-founder of Property Score, a proptech platform she launched with her father. A former professional soccer player for Reading Women's FC and Watford Ladies FC, Batra is passionate about shaping environments that strengthen communities and help teams achieve shared goals. After graduation, she hopes to continue a career in real estate investment and development while pursuing innovative, sustainable and resilient projects.
Aila Bojarski
Hometown: Providence, Rhode Island
Current institution: Drexel University
Focus of Study: Real Estate Management and Development, Finance
Bojarski is an honors student at Drexel University's LeBow College of Business pursuing a double major in real estate management and development and finance. She is currently completing a financial analyst co-op at Marcus & Millichap, where she is gaining experience in commercial real estate financial analysis, building on previous experience in leasing, property management and construction project management. At Drexel, Bojarski serves as president of the Transfer Students Association, vice president of the Drexel Cleftomaniacs and a student ambassador. She is passionate about commercial real estate and looks forward to building a career in real estate finance and investments.
Madelyn Champion
Hometown: Newport Beach, California
Current institution: University of California, Los Angeles
Focus of Study: Finance
Champion is a senior at the University of California, Los Angeles, studying mathematics and economics and has been a CREW member since her freshman year. She serves as external vice president of the Bruin Real Estate Association, president of the financial literacy organization MoneyThink and is involved with Project Destined. Champion has interned in investments at Greystar and asset management at Essex Property Trust and plans to pursue a career in commercial real estate acquisitions.
Serena Chao
Hometown: Irvine, California
Current Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Focus of Study: Mathematics, Business Administration, and Economics
Chao is a junior double majoring in mathematics and business administration with an emphasis in real estate and a minor in economics. She is a member of the Undergraduate Real Estate Club, part of the Carolina Real Estate Talent Incubator's inaugural class and donor relations coordinator for Run Your City Chapel Hill. Chao interned at Prologis in 2025 and Mountain Housing Opportunities in 2026 and will join Goldman Sachs as a real estate investing summer analyst in 2027. She aspires to work in real estate investments after graduating in May 2028.
Julie Cohen
Hometown: Sunnyvale, California
Current institution: San Diego State University
Focus of Study: Real Estate and Business Management
Cohen is a senior majoring in business management with a minor in real estate at San Diego State University. She serves as vice president of the SDSU Real Estate Society and is actively involved with the San Diego chapters of CREW, NAIOP, ULI, BIA and ICSC. Cohen was a tenant representation brokerage intern at Cresa San Diego last summer and is currently a brokerage intern at CAST Capital Partners in San Diego. She plans to work in commercial real estate brokerage through her senior year and after graduation.
Nydia Tiara Crockett
Hometown: New Orleans, Louisiana
Current Institution: Southern New Hampshire University
Focus of Study: Accounting and Finance
Crockett is a senior studying accounting and finance with a concentration in management accounting and a minor in marketing. With a professional background in consumer lending and mortgage operations, she has developed experience leading teams, supporting system transitions, coordinating loan onboarding across departments and helping borrowers navigate important financial decisions. Her work has strengthened her analytical, operational and communication skills while deepening her interest in the connection between finance, real estate and community development. As she prepares for a career in commercial real estate, Crockett hopes to apply her education and experience to promote responsible investment, expand access to economic opportunity and contribute to the long-term growth of her community.
Leighton Douglass
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Current Institution: Rice Jones Graduate School of Business
Focus of Study: Business Administration
Douglass is pursuing a Master of Business Administration at Rice University, specializing in real estate and finance. She serves as co-president of the Rice Business Real Estate Association and is a Rice Business Board Fellow for the Bayou Land Conservancy. Holding a Bachelor of Architecture with a minor in real estate from the University of Notre Dame, Douglass is a licensed architect with a professional background in architectural design and project management across high-end residential and K-12 education projects. She is currently a real estate investment intern at The Dinerstein Companies and plans to pursue a career in commercial real estate investment after graduation.
Lilly Ellison
Hometown: Montgomery, New York
Current Institution: Villanova University
Focus of Study: Finance and Real Estate
Ellison is a junior honors student double majoring in finance and real estate at Villanova University. She is a licensed real estate salesperson in Massachusetts and serves as co-vice president of the Villanova Real Estate Society. Ellison interned for a year with two brokerage teams at CBRE and most recently interned with Cushman & Wakefield in Boston. She aspires to become a retail broker and is grateful for the support CREW has provided in helping her pursue her career goals.
Rapha Felipe
Hometown: Metro Manila, Philippines
Current institution: Stanford University
Focus of Study: Sustainable Real Estate Development
Felipe is a second-year Master of Science student in sustainable design and construction at Stanford University, focusing on climate resilience in the built environment. She is currently an investment operations intern at the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Beijing, where she draws on her engineering experience at Turner Construction to support flood resiliency and nature-based solutions projects. She also serves as a technical writing teaching fellow at Stanford and an industry mentor for her alma mater, the University of California, Berkeley's Associated Schools of Construction Sustainable Building Competition team. With experience in the United States, Japan, South Korea and the Philippines, Felipe believes climate resiliency is economic resiliency and aims to work at the intersection of real estate and construction to advance sustainability initiatives both locally and internationally.
Laiqa Gitosuputro
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Current institution: Harvard University
Focus of Study: Architecture
Gitosuputro is pursuing a Master of Architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design with an interest in urban planning. She earned a Bachelor of Science in architecture, summa cum laude, with honors and research distinction from The Ohio State University. She later interned in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., as a National Organization of Minority Architects Fellow and now works as an architecture intern for SCB in Boston as the firm's Foundation Scholar. She also serves as chair of the Harvard GSD Student Forum. Upon graduation, Gitosuputro intends to pursue architectural licensure while continuing her research.
Brooke Gonzalez
Hometown: Coralville, Iowa
Current Institution: The University of Iowa
Focus of Study: Finance and Accounting
Gonzalez is a rising senior majoring in finance and accounting. She is involved in the Tippie Business Honors Society and the professional business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, where she previously served as Mental Health Chair. Gonzalez has been an intern at Principal Asset Management in commercial real estate private equity since May 2025. Upon graduation, she aspires to pursue a career in commercial real estate.
Tess Hatchell
Hometown: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Current Institution: Southern Methodist University, Cox School of Business
Focus of Study: Real Estate Finance and Entrepreneurship
Hatchell is a senior majoring in real estate finance with a specialization in entrepreneurship at Southern Methodist University. She serves as co-president of the SMU Undergraduate Real Estate Club and as an associate with RISE, SMU's premier real estate private equity program. Hatchell has interned with Real Estate Southwest Development and is currently interning with KKR's Real Estate Credit Team in Dallas. She plans to pursue a career in commercial real estate after graduation, focusing on private credit, development or brokerage.
Alissa Ji
Hometown: Marietta, Georgia
Current institution: Stanford University, Harvard University
Focus of Study: Business and Public Policy
Ji is entering the final year of a dual MBA and Master of Public Policy program at Stanford University and Harvard University, where she serves on the Stanford Graduate School of Business Impact Fund's Urban Development Investment Team. She previously served as chief of staff at the Community Economic Defense Project, a Colorado housing nonprofit, and has worked in housing policy for the Tulsa mayor, the Boston Housing Authority and the Hawaiʻi governor's office. Ji began her career as a management consultant at Bain & Company in New York and is passionate about affordable housing, cities and sustainable economic development.
Kleio Jiang
Hometown: Shanghai, China
Current institution: Georgetown University
Focus of Study: Real Estate
Jiang is a second-year master's student in real estate at Georgetown University. She serves on the boards of Georgetown's Student Advisory Board in Real Estate and the NAIOP Young Professionals Group. Jiang interned at MFX Ventures for a year and now works there as a commercial real estate associate. She aspires to start her own company after graduation.
Amaya Johnson
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Current institution: Georgia State University
Focus of Study: Real Estate
Johnson is a senior at Georgia State University majoring in real estate with a minor in hospitality administration. She holds a Georgia real estate salesperson license and serves as partner of the Commercial Real Estate Group, oversees Women in CREG and works as a peer career adviser in the university's Career Advancement Center. Johnson has completed two summer internships with Duke Energy's real estate team in Charlotte, North Carolina. She aspires to build a career in commercial real estate asset and portfolio management.
Lilly Keegan
Hometown: Long Island, New York
Current institution: University of Notre Dame
Focus of Study: Finance
Keegan is an incoming senior majoring in finance with minors in real estate and marketing at the University of Notre Dame. She is a member of the Notre Dame Business Honors Program and serves as both a mentor and vice president of networking and recruiting for the Real Estate Club of Notre Dame. Keegan is also a Division I athlete on the Notre Dame women's rowing team. Outside the university, she is a member of BL Next, a nonprofit initiative dedicated to empowering student-athletes to pursue careers in commercial real estate, and is an ICSC Scholar and Ferguson Centers for Leadership Excellence Fellow. Last summer, she interned at Triangle Equities, a real estate owner, developer and operator, and was also a Hines Skyline Scholar. This summer, she is interning with Macquarie's Real Estate Private Equity team in New York City. She aspires to serve the common good and strengthen communities through a career in real estate investments.
Nora Kelly
Hometown: South Bend, Indiana
Current institution: Columbia University
Focus of Study: Architecture
Kelly earned a Bachelor of Science in architectural design from Stanford University and is currently pursuing a Master of Architecture at Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation. Before attending Columbia, she completed a year of AmeriCorps service in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As a designer, Kelly has worked on multifamily, workplace and aviation projects for architecture firms in San Francisco, London, New York and Indiana. This summer, she is working at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates in New York. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue architectural licensure.
Namkyoung (Olivia) Lee
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Current institution: Cornell University
Focus of Study: Real Estate Investment and Finance
Lee is a graduate student in the Baker Program in Real Estate at Cornell University. She brings extensive cross-border experience in institutional real estate private equity and REIT management, having managed and underwritten more than 10 major international investment projects. Her experience spans core real estate asset classes across the United States and Europe. She also played a key role in facilitating a major public IPO on the Korea Exchange. At Cornell, Lee helped her team earn third place in the 2025 UT Austin National Real Estate Challenge. A candidate for the CFA Level III designation, she is currently a fall intern at McCourt Partners, where she is leveraging her investment and underwriting experience to connect global investment capital with project execution.
Annabelle Magill
Hometown: Oakham, Massachusetts
Current institution: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Focus of Study: Fire Protection Engineering
Magill is an incoming junior majoring in civil engineering while pursuing a master's degree in fire protection engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. During the academic year, she works as an academic advising office assistant. She serves as treasurer of WPI's Running Club and is an active member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers and the American Society of Civil Engineers. Magill is interning as a fire protection engineering intern at Jensen Hughes in Warwick, R.I., and plans to pursue a career in fire protection after graduating from WPI.
Emily Mair
Hometown: West Chicago, Illinois
Current institution: Clemson University
Focus of Study: Healthcare Architecture
Mair is a second-year master's student at Clemson University pursuing a degree in Architecture Plus Health. She earned a Bachelor of Science in architecture from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2025. During her undergraduate studies, Mair served as president of the Society for Business Management in Architecture and worked as a project management intern at Project Management Advisors in Chicago. At Clemson, she works as a graduate research assistant in the Health Equity and Environmental Design Lab while focusing on healthcare architecture. This summer, she is interning in healthcare architecture at Perkins&Will in Chicago. Mair looks forward to graduating next year and beginning her professional career.
April Miller
Hometown: Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas
Current Institution: Texas A&M University
Focus of Study: Land and Property Development
Miller is pursuing a Master of Land and Property Development at Texas A&M University. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design and built her career as a project designer in the commercial furniture industry. During her undergraduate studies, Miller served as president of the student-led Interior Network Council. She is also actively involved with the International Interior Design Association, where she served on her local City Center Council as communications chair, director-elect, director and past director. Miller is interested in the intersection of commercial real estate development, workplace strategy and the built environment.
Ashlee Moore
Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Current institution: Colorado State University
Focus of Study: Construction Management
Moore is a junior majoring in construction management with a minor in real estate in the Honors Program at Colorado State University. She previously competed on the university's VDC Construction Management Competition Team and is currently completing a field engineering internship with GH Phipps Construction Companies after interning with DAWSON, where she supported operations, maintenance and construction projects. Passionate about both commercial and residential construction, Moore aspires to build a career in project management while advancing opportunities for women in construction and commercial real estate.
Jazmin Nickerson
Hometown: Aurora, Colorado
Current Institution: University of Southern California
Focus of Study: Real Estate Development
Nickerson is a senior majoring in real estate development with a minor in entrepreneurship at the University of Southern California. She serves as vice president of USC's first Black Real Estate Network. Most recently, Nickerson interned at Prologis in San Francisco as an investment analyst intern and plans to pursue a career in real estate investments after graduating in May 2027.
Anna Norris
Hometown: Plano, Texas
Current Institution: Northeastern University
Focus of Study: Finance and Economics
Norris is a rising senior majoring in business administration and economics with a concentration in finance at Northeastern University. She serves as a senior analyst for the Real Estate Analyst Program, head Rho Gamma for the Northeastern Panhellenic Chapter, and a member of the Northeastern Real Estate Club, Chi Omega and Women in Finance. Norris has completed three real estate experiences, including internships and co-ops at Lee & Associates, BXP Inc. and Amalgamated Bank, spanning leasing, accounting, lending and portfolio management. She aspires to build a long-term career in commercial real estate, leveraging her finance background after graduation.
Maryia Pauliushchyk
Hometown: Minsk, Belarus until 2016, then Warrington, Pennsylvania
Current institution: Northeastern University
Focus of Study: Finance
Pauliushchyk is a senior pursuing a Bachelor of Science in business administration at Northeastern University with a concentration in finance. She is currently an acquisitions and deal originations intern at PCCP, building on previous internship experience at NorthBridge Partners in industrial private equity. On campus, Pauliushchyk serves as a programming associate for the Northeastern University Real Estate Club and continues to explore commercial real estate through programs including Project Destined, ICSC, Coffee Connectors and CREW Boston. She aspires to build a career in capital raising and business development.
Deepali Paasham
Hometown: New Hill, North Carolina
Current institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Focus of Study: Real Estate and Finance
Paasham is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill studying business and public policy with concentrations in finance and real estate. She has served as trek coordinator for the Undergraduate Real Estate Club and vice president of finance for the Asset and Wealth Management Club. This summer, Paasham is expanding on her experience at Barings by working across the company's real estate debt and equity teams after interning with Kane Realty in commercial real estate development last summer. She looks forward to building a career in commercial real estate investment management.
Lena Pham
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Current Institution: University of Houston
Focus of Study: Finance
Pham is a senior at the University of Houston majoring in finance with a concentration in real estate. She served as assistant program manager for Student Support Services at the Stanford Alexander Center for Real Estate, where she coordinated student programs, industry events and mentorship initiatives while supporting undergraduate engagement. She has completed internships and fellowship programs with organizations including Project Destined, CBRE, Berkadia and The Richland Companies. Pham is currently interning in multifamily property management with Trinity Property Consultants and plans to pursue a career in commercial real estate asset management or development while building a long-term real estate investment portfolio.
Berdine Sainterme
Hometown: Woodbridge, New Jersey
Current institution: Rutgers Business School–Newark
Focus of Study: Finance and Real Estate
Sainterme is a senior majoring in finance with a minor in real estate at Rutgers Business School–Newark. She serves as chief of finance for the Rutgers University Program Board and as a senior analyst for the Rutgers Student Managed Investment Fund. Sainterme has completed two summer internships at Goldman Sachs in the firm's Asset & Wealth Management division. She has also participated in the Girls Who Invest Summer Intensive Program and the ICSC Real Estate Fellowship. After graduation, she plans to build a career in investment management and commercial real estate, with the long-term goal of becoming a real estate investor.
Aanya Shah
Hometown: Las Vegas, Nevada
Current Institution: University of Southern California
Focus of Study: Real Estate Finance
Shah is a sophomore majoring in business administration with a concentration in real estate finance and a minor in artificial intelligence applications at the University of Southern California. She founded Trojan Real Estate Women, serves on the CREW Network Research Committee, is a member of the executive board of the Marshall Artificial Intelligence Association and serves as director of mentors and leaders for the Marshall Real Estate Finance Association. Shah is currently a capital markets intern at JLL and previously interned at Enterprise Bank & Trust. She aspires to build a career in commercial real estate investment and development while leveraging artificial intelligence to drive innovation across the industry.
Rajvi Bimal Shah
Hometown: Palm Beach, Florida
Current institution: Johnson Cornell Tech (SC Johnson College of Business)
Focus of Study: Urban Technology
Shah is a first-year Master of Business Administration student at Cornell Tech and a Forte Fellow, focusing on urban technology. Before business school, she spent more than two years as a transportation analyst at Kittelson & Associates in Orlando, Florida, where she developed a transit-oriented development tool for District 4, led GIS-based analyses for micromobility and electric vehicle infrastructure planning, and authored an emergency response toolkit to strengthen disaster preparedness for one of Florida's largest transit agencies. She earned a Bachelor of Science in geography and sustainable development, with minors in business technology and architecture, from the University of Miami. Shah hopes to build a career applying her planning and geospatial background to real estate and community development.
Tanesa Singleton
Hometown: South Riding, Virginia
Current institution: George Mason University
Focus of Study: Real Estate Development
Singleton is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in real estate development at George Mason University. She serves on the CREW NoVa Foundation Committee and the CREDA Awards Committee, supporting professional development and industry engagement. A licensed Realtor in Virginia and Maryland, Singleton also volunteers with Junior Achievement, teaching financial literacy and entrepreneurship to middle school students. Upon graduation, she plans to advance her career in commercial real estate development with a focus on international sustainable development.
Shreya Sinha
Hometown: Madison, Mississippi
Current institution: Stanford University
Focus of Study: Real Estate Finance
Sinha is a senior at Stanford University majoring in classics with a strong interest in real estate finance developed through coursework and industry experience. She has interned with Stanford Real Estate and Presidio Bay Ventures, where she worked on portfolio analysis, valuation, financial modeling and development feasibility. Upon graduation, Sinha plans to pursue a career in commercial real estate.
Taylor Smith
Hometown: Oak Park, Illinois
Current institution: Indiana State University
Focus of Study: Interior Architecture Design
Smith is a junior majoring in interior architecture design with a minor in marketing at Indiana State University. She is active on campus as a track and field athlete, an Honors College peer mentor, a member of the marketing committee for the university's Real Estate Organization, an ambassador for the mental health awareness organization Shine Your Light and a member of Interior Designers Embracing Architecture. Smith has served as both an intern and teaching assistant for the International Interior Design Association's Design Your World program and is currently a community and economic development intern at the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation in Chicago. She hopes to become an interior architect specializing in commercial design while helping bridge economic inequality through real estate investment.
Izabella Smolnicka-Dos Santos
Hometown: Fort Myers, Florida
Current institution: Stanford University
Focus of Study: Sustainable Design and Construction
Smolnicka-Dos Santos is pursuing a Master of Science in sustainable design and construction at Stanford University. She also earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental systems engineering with a minor in Earth systems sustainability from Stanford. She is a member of Stanford Professionals in Real Estate, serves as social director for the Stanford Rural Engagement Network and marketing director for Stanford Climate Week, and works as a Living Lab Fellow with Sustainable Stanford. Smolnicka-Dos Santos has previously interned in engineering, city planning, energy efficiency and regenerative agriculture. She plans to pursue a career at the intersection of sustainable and affordable real estate development.
Loren Upchurch
Hometown: McDonough, Georgia
Institution: University of Georgia
Focus of Study: Real Estate and Finance
Upchurch is a rising senior at the University of Georgia pursuing a double major in real estate and finance with a minor in urban planning. She is on track to graduate with highest honors from the Morehead Honors College and serves as president of the UGA Real Estate Society while remaining active in her local CREDA and ICSC chapters. Upchurch spent her sophomore summer as a rotational intern with Selig Enterprises in Atlanta and most recently worked as an investments summer analyst at Greystar's Charleston, South Carolina, headquarters. She plans to pursue a career in commercial real estate investments.
Abby Venhaus
Hometown: Wheat Ridge, Colorado
Current institution: University of Denver
Focus of Study: Real Estate and the Built Environment
Venhaus is entering her second year in the graduate program in real estate and the built environment at the University of Denver. She brings eight years of experience in real estate development and construction, working as a general contractor, owner's representative and developer in the hospitality and agricultural sectors. Venhaus plans to continue her development career with the goal of creating places where people can connect with nature and their communities.
Paula Vidal
Hometown: Lima, Peru
Current institution: New York University
Focus of Study: Real Estate Development
Vidal is a graduate student pursuing a Master of Science in real estate development at New York University's Schack Institute of Real Estate. At NYU, she has contributed to research through the NYU REIT Center, focusing on affordable housing, REIT structures and impact real estate investing. Before moving to New York, Vidal worked in architecture and residential real estate development in Lima, Peru. She hopes to build a career in real estate development and acquisitions, with the long-term goal of leading projects that create both commercial and community value.
Israa Wadif
Hometown: Round Rock, Texas
Current Institution: University of Houston
Focus of Study: Finance and Management Information Systems
Wadif is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration with a double major in finance and management information systems at the University of Houston. She is passionate about using technology, financial strategy and data-driven decision-making to shape the future of commercial real estate. As a first-generation college student, Wadif aspires to build a career in commercial real estate investment and development by combining financial expertise with innovative technology to create smarter, more sustainable and people-centered real estate solutions.
Libby Warren
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
Current institution: Stanford University
Focus of Study: Economics and Psychology
Warren is a rising senior at Stanford University majoring in economics and psychology. She has served as co-president of the Stanford Real Estate Association and as a student board member for Stanford Professionals in Real Estate. In summer 2025, Warren interned with the Capital Markets team at Lincoln Property Company in Dallas. This summer, she is interning with KKR's Real Estate Equity team in San Francisco. She plans to pursue a career in commercial real estate investment after graduation.
Ava Widiger
Hometown: Highland, Indiana
Current institution: Purdue University in Indianapolis
Focus of Study: Interior Architecture
Widiger is a senior at Purdue University in Indianapolis majoring in interior architecture while pursuing a certificate in entrepreneurship. She serves as treasurer of the Student Design Organization and has interned with both Tonn and Blank Construction and King and Canvas. Widiger plans to pursue a career in commercial design or building code enforcement after graduation.
Fiona Winger
Hometown: Palmerton, Pennsylvania
Current Institution: Temple University
Focus of Study: Real Estate and Finance
Winger is a senior majoring in real estate and finance at Temple University's Fox School of Business. She previously served as president of the Temple Real Estate Organization and the Business Honors Student Association. She also holds leadership roles with the Temple University Diamond Marching Band as crew chief and equipment manager. Outside of CREW, Winger is active with the Appraisal Institute, CoreNet Global and ICSC. This past summer, she interned at Valbridge Property Advisors, where she gained experience in commercial real estate appraisal from certified general appraisers and MAI designees. She also works as a deputy assistant for the Office of Development and Alumni Relations and as a Fox ambassador for the Enrollment Office. After graduation, Winger plans to pursue a career in commercial real estate, with interests in appraisal and valuation, acquisitions or portfolio management.
Weronika Wojdak
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Current institution: University of Illinois Chicago
Focus of Study: Finance and Real Estate
Wojdak is a rising senior at the University of Illinois Chicago double majoring in finance and real estate with a concentration in investments and capital markets. She serves as vice president of the UIC Real Estate Club and as a finance mentor for first-year business students. Wojdak joined ICM Properties as a leasing intern, was promoted to leasing consultant and later returned for a second leasing season. She plans to pursue a career in real estate development after graduation.
Lamia Ye
Hometown: Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Current institution: University of California, Berkeley
Focus of Study: Real Estate Development and Design
Ye is a graduate student in the Master of Real Estate Development + Design program at the University of California, Berkeley, bringing five years of project management experience across health care infrastructure, global real estate operations and Bay Area housing development. As a project manager at AlphaX RE Capital, she specializes in translating California housing legislation into entitlement strategies and has overseen more than 20 starter-home infill projects throughout the Bay Area. Ye is a founding member of the Spartan Real Estate Association at San José State University and competed in the Boston University National Real Estate Competition. She aspires to build a career in real estate development that bridges policy and practice while expanding access to attainable housing.
Sofia Zervos
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Current institution: University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Focus of Study: Marketing
Zervos is a senior at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee majoring in marketing with a certificate in real estate while also pursuing an honors degree. She serves on the board of the Panther Real Estate Club, is vice president of social media and marketing for the American Marketing Association, and writes for The Aggregate, the Honors College newsletter. This summer, Zervos is interning at Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke and plans to build a career in commercial real estate brokerage after graduation.
