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 monthly 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 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 attend the UVA Real Estate Conference, hosted by the Center on the second Friday of November each fall. The daylong 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 lifelong learning. Students are able to attend the Welcome Reception the evening prior to the conference and participate in all programming and networking activities.

The White Ruffin Byron Center for Real Estate is excited to announce the launch of the Virginia Real Estate Mentoring Program in 2025, a new initiative designed to foster career development, professional networking, and lasting connections between students and alumni in real estate. This program will provide a structured opportunity for alumni to share their expertise while supporting students eager to explore careers in the industry. 

If you would like to be part of this program as a student or mentor, please reach out to us at centerforrealestate@virginia.edu to indicate your interest. 

The Center facilitates practical training opportunities for UVA students including financial modeling, ARGUS, and other relevant platforms. These trainings are typically coordinated with the Darden Real Estate Club and the Virginia Undergraduate Real Estate Club (VUREC), but are open to all interested students. 

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.

• 2025 winners - Courtney Hodge (M.S. in Data Science '25) and Josh Novick (McIntire '25)
• 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 & 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.