My philosophy of service centers on building structures that elevate students, strengthen faculty collaboration, and expand the department's research and professional reach. Service is the collective work that preserves the culture of an academic unit, maintains the integrity of its curriculum, and creates opportunities for meaningful engagement beyond the classroom. I approach service with the mindset that universities thrive when relationships are strong, when research communities are active, and when students experience a direct connection between their learning and the world they hope to enter.
One of my primary areas of service interest is the development and support of student-managed funds. Real estate and finance education is strongest when students experience the consequences of decision-making in environments that mimic professional responsibility. Student-managed funds teach more than valuation or portfolio construction. They cultivate discipline, accountability, confidence, and communication. I hope to contribute to the creation or expansion of funds in which students manage real capital, present their strategies to local professionals, and learn to articulate their decisions clearly. These programs also deepen the university’s relationship with industry partners. When practitioners see how students think and perform, they become more likely to mentor, hire, and invest in the program. I view student-managed funds as an anchor for long-term alum engagement and community trust.
I also want to build systems that bring practitioners and alums into the classroom regularly. Students often struggle to imagine what a real career in finance or real estate looks like. Even short visits from a professional can reorient a student’s expectations and provide a clearer sense of purpose. My preferred format is a brief, focused interview in which guests explain how they entered the field, what early challenges shaped them, and what students should know as they begin. I would like to help coordinate a structured speaker pipeline that faculty can access whenever needed, ensuring that all students benefit from consistent exposure to industry perspectives. Because many alums remain within driving distance, and others pass through the region for meetings or conferences, there is a natural opportunity to make the department a gathering point for these voices.
My background in event design also shapes how I think about service. Before entering academia, I spent years designing environments that encouraged connection, dialogue, and collaboration. I learned how to build atmospheres where people feel comfortable talking openly and where conversations naturally lead to cooperation. I want to bring this capability into academic life by organizing research seminars, alum events, and student development gatherings that feel intentional rather than perfunctory. Well-crafted environments can enhance the quality of scholarly conversation, foster faculty cohesion, and make students feel welcome in professional circles. Universities benefit from more than information exchange. They benefit from spaces that invite community.
Research seminars are another primary focus of my service vision. Research institutions rely on vibrant seminar series to maintain intellectual rigor, support faculty development, and expose students to emerging work. I previously served as the PhD seminar coordinator in my department, a role that strengthened my understanding of what makes a seminar successful. I learned how to communicate with speakers, support logistics, coordinate with faculty, and create space for students to engage. At a Research institution, I hope to contribute to seminar leadership by helping bring in scholars who broaden the department’s methodological and topical reach. I also want to integrate doctoral students into these events through pre-seminar workshops, reading groups, and structured interactions that help them develop research instincts.
Service also involves building bridges across campus. Finance and real estate intersect naturally with urban studies, economics, public policy, data science, architecture, environmental science, and law. I am interested in exploring cross-unit collaborations that support joint research, interdisciplinary teaching, and shared events. These collaborations help faculty secure external funding, provide students with multiple entry points into complex problems, and enhance the university’s broader visibility. Because my own work touches political behavior, urban development, green innovation, and AI bias in financial decision systems, I see opportunities to engage with units outside the business school in ways that benefit both research and teaching.
Another aspect of service I value is mentoring. Students often need guidance to understand the rhythm of academic life, the expectations of professional careers, and the mindset required for long-term success. I plan to serve as an advisor for student clubs in finance, real estate, investment analysis, sustainability, or technology. These organizations are essential sites of professional development. Whether through case competitions, networking nights, or informal community-building events, student groups can become pathways that carry students from the classroom into the professional world with confidence.
Beyond campus, I plan to contribute to community engagement initiatives that support financial literacy, housing education, and economic uplift. My research touches themes of political identity, mobility, exposure, and differential access to information. These themes connect naturally to real community needs. I would like to work with local organizations, schools, churches, nonprofits, and municipal agencies to support programs that help families navigate financial decisions or understand housing pathways. This form of service is essential because universities do not exist in isolation. They are part of social and economic systems, and they have a responsibility to improve them.
In all forms of service, my goal is to help cultivate a department culture that values collaboration, intellectual curiosity, and meaningful connection. I believe that strong service strengthens research, enhances teaching, and expands the university’s presence worldwide. I look forward to contributing to these efforts with intention, creativity, and a commitment to building communities that support both academic excellence and human development.