Director of the Weidner Business and Real Estate Center AF7801

Required Qualifications

• An earned master’s degree in real estate, business administration, finance, economics, hospitality management, or a closely related field at the time of appointment.
• Extensive professional or industry experience in real estate, property management, or a related business field.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with industry stakeholders across real estate, property management, and related business sectors.
• Proven ability to work effectively with students, faculty, administrative personnel, and external partners.
• Demonstrated experience in donor engagement, fundraising, or external partnership development.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• An earned doctoral degree (PhD or DBA) in real estate, business administration, finance, economics, hospitality management, or a closely related field.
• University or college teaching experience in real estate, property management, or related business disciplines.
• Professional certifications such as Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), Certified Property Manager (CPM), Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), or equivalent credentials.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in industry engagement, advisory board development, or academic centers, institutes, or programs.
• Publications in professional or academic outlets related to real estate and property management, and/or their intersection with finance, economics, or business.
• Experience with curriculum development and academic program design that integrates real estate and property management with broader business education.

Responsibilities

• Administration:
• Provide strategic leadership and oversee all activities of the Weidner Business and Real Estate Center, including long-term vision, program development, and day-to-day operations.
• Cultivate and sustain industry engagement across real estate and related business sectors, including real estate, property management, finance, investment, and development organizations (e.g., ARES, IREM, CCIM, NAA, BOMA, and related industry partners).
• Prepare and communicate reports on Center activities, student outcomes, and industry impact, highlighting contributions to the Oklahoma business community and university stakeholders.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the Center and industry partners, expanding internship pipelines, scholarship support, experiential learning opportunities, and student placement across real estate and broader business careers.
• Collaborate with academic units across the Spears School of Business, including Hospitality and Tourism Management, Finance, and Economics, to support and enhance interdisciplinary programming within the BSBA in Real Estate and Property Management.
• Support and coordinate Center Fellows from across the Spears School of Business, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration in research, industry engagement, and programmatic initiatives.
• Lead the development and management of the Center’s budget, programming, and fundraising efforts, including donor relations and external partnerships.
• Organize and oversee high-impact events, including professional symposia, guest lectures, and networking programs that connect students with leaders across real estate and related business sectors.
• Teaching:
• Teach one undergraduate course per semester in the area of real estate and property management, such as Real Estate Investment, Real Estate Valuation, Principles of Property Management, Commercial Property and Asset Management, or other related areas as needed.
• Support curriculum development and continuous enhancement for the BSBA in Real Estate and Property Management, including integration with broader business disciplines, alignment with industry competencies, and preparation for relevant professional certifications.
• Service:
• Support faculty and graduate students across the Spears School of Business in advancing interdisciplinary scholarship, including research, peer-reviewed publications, presentations, grant development, and industry-facing outreach.
• Engage in service activities typical of a teaching faculty member at a land-grant university, including involvement with student organizations, committee service, and participation in faculty and curriculum development.
• Facilitate student engagement with professional associations, industry events, and conferences, spanning real estate, property management, and related business fields.

Academic Environment

The BSBA in Real Estate and Property Management is an interdisciplinary degree program between the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the Department of Finance, and the Department of Economics housed within the Spears School of Business. The program builds on the success of the Undergraduate Certificate in Property and Real Estate Management, which launched in fall 2021 and has experienced strong demand among students from multiple disciplines. The degree program totals 120 credit hours and prepares students for careers as property managers, real estate managers, asset managers, community association managers, and related positions in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

Application and Nominations

Applicants should apply at jobs.okstate.edu. Search for Req494382. Please attach your letter of interest; statement of professional goals, area(s) of interest, scholarly activities in instruction, research and outreach; Vita; and a list of three references.