Director’s Welcome
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.

Jeanne Varney ’85
Arthur Adler ’78 & Karen Adler ’78
Director of the Center for Real Estate and Finance
jmv59@cornell.edu
Previous Directors

Steve Carvell
January 2019 - June 2024
Dan Quan
July 2013 - December 2018