Updates from the Director

The Center for Real Estate and Finance typically publishes updates from its director a few times each year. Explore all of CREF’s news and features.

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Jeanne Varney '85

Arthur Adler '78 & Karen Adler '78 Director of the Center for Real Estate and Finance

July 2025

Welcome to the Center for Real Estate and Finance in the Peter and Stephanie Nolan School of Hotel Administration in the SC Johnson College of Business at Cornell University, the hub for Real Estate at Cornell.  At the heart of our mission is a deep commitment to fostering meaningful connections among faculty, students, alumni, and industry leaders to strengthen the real estate industry community, both on and off campus, as well as advance thought leadership within the field.

Our Center has a strong history of being student-centric. We actively support and cultivate student engagement through a wide range of initiatives, including career-focused treks, activities amongst our numerous real estate clubs, student case competitions, and one-on-one mentorship opportunities. These experiences are designed to prepare our students not only to succeed but to lead in the dynamic world of real estate.

We also serve as a bridge between industry and academia, working closely with our world-class faculty to provide insights, connections, and resources that enrich both research and teaching. By linking academic excellence with industry expertise, we ensure our programs remain relevant, impactful, and forward-looking.

Whether you are a student, faculty member, alumnus, or industry partner, we look forward to collaborating with you to advance innovation and excellence in Real Estate at Cornell.


Current CREF Director's Updates

Below are previous messages from the current director at the Center for Real Estate and Finance.


Previous CREF Director's Updates

Below are previous message from directors at the Center for Real Estate and Finance.

Steve Carvell, former director


Dan Quan, former director


Jan deRoos, former director