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Dean V. White Real Estate Scholars

The Dean V. White Real Estate Scholars is a select group of high-achieving students who are preparing for careers in commercial real estate. The selection process is competitive, considering leadership, academic achievement, and involvement in real estate events. Students can prepare to apply fall semester of their junior year by declaring one of the real estate minors and by taking or planning to take the Real Estate Fundamentals course before or during junior year. We are proud to introduce you to our current Dean V. White Real Estate Scholars!

Scholars Dinner
Krish Aggarwal is from Naperville, Illinois. He will graduate in May 2027 with a Business Analytics and Information Management major, a minor in Real Estate Finance, and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Krish is currently pursuing internship opportunities. “Though MGMT 370 is the first Real Estate class I've taken, I am really enjoying the course so far. Getting such a broad introduction to the world of real estate has been great in identifying different areas of interest that I could possibly look at as a career.”
Connect with Krish on LinkedIn
Zane Barnett is from Westfield, Indiana, and will graduate in May 2026 with a major in Finance, a minor in Real Estate Finance, and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He has completed internships at Zeller Realty, Shiel Sexton, and State Farm, gaining experience across development, construction, and real estate investment. After graduation, he will join Buckingham as an Investment Analyst, supporting acquisitions, development, asset management, and capital markets activities. “My favorite experience in the Real Estate Program was competing in the Harold E. Eisenberg Real Estate Challenge, where our team placed second nationally. The competition involved creating a mixed-use development proposal for a 10-acre site in Chicago and presenting it to a panel of industry professionals. It was a hands-on opportunity to apply classroom concepts to a real-world project, deepening my understanding of financial modeling, market analysis, and development strategy.”
Connect with Zane on LinkedIn
Cole Cannon is from Hiko, Nevada. He will graduate in May 2026 with majors in Finance and Agribusiness Management and a minor in Real Estate. Cole is currently pursuing opportunities in Commercial Real Estate, with a long-term focus on development. “I’ve always been drawn to the economic impact that new CRE projects can have on communities and the way they shape local growth.” Cole has participated in the Real Estate Program trips to Chicago and Indianapolis. “They’ve not only enhanced my learning, but also provided a great opportunity to connect with like-minded students and engage with accomplished alumni in the industry.”
Connect with Cole on LinkedIn
Lillian Dailey is from Long Beach, California. She will graduate in May 2027 with a Selling and Sales Management major and minors in Real Estate and Construction Management. She is currently pursuing internships with several commercial real estate companies. “My favorite Real Estate Program event has been the Chicago Trek. Although I have visited Chicago several times, I have never had the opportunity to explore the local workforce. It was amazing to learn from such passionate and knowledgeable people.”
Connect with Lillian on LinkedIn
Mia Dayton is from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She will graduate in May 2026 with an Economics major and a Real Estate Finance minor. After graduation, she plans to attend graduate school. “One of my favorite program events has been my first Indy Trek my junior year. It had been introduced in my first class of real estate and was the reason I joined the program.”
Connect with Mia on LinkedIn
Bobby Hahn is from Haddonfield, New Jersey. He will graduate in May 2026 with a major in Construction Engineering, a minor in Real Estate, and a Certificate in Industry Co-op Ed Program. Bobby is looking for opportunities in real estate development firms to help spearhead the development and construction of transformative, mixed-use properties that shape the future of urban living. “My favorite Real Estate Program was the Chicago Real Estate Trek. The experience stood out because it offered an immersive look at the development process beyond the classroom, combining site tours, networking opportunities, and direct exposure to industry leaders.”
Connect with Bobby on LinkedIn
Will Hahn is from Greenfield, Indiana. He will graduate in May 2027 with a Finance major and Real Estate Finance minor. Will is interning this summer in Indianapolis at JPMorganChase in Commercial Banking.
Connect with Will on LinkedIn
Avery Huber is from West Lafayette, Indiana. He will graduate in May 2026 with majors in Economics and Accounting and a minor in Real Estate Finance. Avery will begin his career as a Development Analyst at Subtext in St. Louis. Two highlights of Avery’s time in the program: Learning legal strategies and development processes for retail real estate with visiting lecturer and alumnus Marc Hagle, and participating in a semester-long case competition with Professor Jeffrey Stokes on Hotel REIT investments.
Connect with Avery on LinkedIn
Ben Keleher is from Carmel, Indiana. He will graduate in May 2027 with a Finance major and minors in Accounting and Real Estate Finance. Ben will be interning this summer at Bank of America in Chicago as an Enterprise Credit Summer Analyst - Global Corporate Banking, Asset Based Finance, Commercial Real Estate. His favorite real estate event was the PRES meeting featuring Blue Owl Capital.
Connect with Ben on LinkedIn
Joshua Kim is from Glenview, Illinois. He will graduate in May 2026 with a Finance major and a Real Estate Finance minor. Joshua describes what he learned at his internship last summer: “I worked across the full deal cycle. I toured properties, analyzed rents and sales comps, and underwrote acquisitions and redevelopment opportunities. I evaluated tenant financials, reviewed Argus models, and built investment cases with cash-flow projections. I also supported financing and execution by preparing a 2026 loan package and working through LOIs, SNDAs, capital project agreements, budget walks, and lease transactions.”
Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn
Kieran Kneeland is from San Diego, California. He will graduate in May 2027 with a Selling and Sales Management major and minors in Real Estate and Management. Kieran is pursuing an internship in various fields of commercial real estate to enhance his skillset developed through relevant coursework and extracurricular involvement.
Connect with Kieran on LinkedIn
Lola Kokott is from Chicago, Illinois. She will graduate in December 2026 with a Finance major and a Real Estate Finance minor. Lola is pursuing opportunities in commercial real estate, specifically investment analytics. “Last semester, I had the opportunity to attend the trek to Indianapolis. This trip deepened my understanding of various sectors of real estate. The networking opportunities from this event and all events hosted by PRES have acclimated me to professional networking and overall confidence in finding a career that is a good fit for me.”
Connect with Lola on LinkedIn
Jack Link is from Lagrange, Illinois. He will graduate in May 2026 with a Construction Management major and Real Estate minor. “My most recent internship was with JE Dunn construction in Tampa, FL and was an amazing experience where I was able to grow my knowledge of the construction industry. I am currently working on growing my own Property Management and Construction company and will be going full time into this endeavor after I graduate.” Jack attended Chicago and Indianapolis Real Estate Treks. “It was a great opportunity to gain some insights to these cities from local developers and real estate professionals.”
Connect with Jack on LinkedIn
Nathan Malin is from Northbrook, Illinois. He will graduate in May 2026 with majors in Accounting and Finance and a Real Estate Finance minor. “I am working at PwC this summer in Tax in Chicago. I want to transition to audit and become a controller/CFO for a real estate company.” His favorite Real Estate activities: “I really liked the Chicago Trek and also the Matt Carroll lunch. One allowed me to network with professionals and visit the firm I interned at last summer. The lunch with Matt Carroll taught me that I didn't want to go the brokerage route.”
Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn
Eli Mathew is from Monticello, Indiana. He will graduate in May 2027 with a Finance major and minors in Accounting and Real Estate Finance. Eli is currently interviewing for internship positions at several commercial real estate companies.
Connect with Eli on LinkedIn
Ashling McNaughton is from Chicago, Illinois. She will graduate in May 2026 with a major in Economics and minors in Finance and Real Estate Finance. After graduation, Ashling is heading to New York City to join JPMorgan Chase in the Chase Leadership Development Program. Her favorite Real Estate memory? “A recent highlight for me was a REIT case competition at the University of Michigan I did with fellow Scholars. After a week of learning a ton about the REIT space, we got to connect with students from across the country, judges from top real estate companies, and ended up placing 2nd! It was an amazing experience both professionally and personally.”
Connect with Ashling on LinkedIn
Divya Muppavarapu is from Miami, Florida. She will graduate in May 2027 with majors in Finance and Accounting, a minor in Real Estate Finance and certificates in Discounted Cash Flow Modeling and Financial Modeling. Divya has had internships with Rockefeller Capital Management and Morgan Stanley and is actively exploring opportunities in the commercial real estate industry, with a specific focus in investment analysis, acquisitions, and property management. “The Real Estate Fundamentals course is my first formal introduction to the field, and it has been very impactful. It connects financial principles, market concepts, and legal frameworks directly related to the real-world of real estate. The course has helped me to better understand how important concepts apply to property investments, loans, development projects, and much more. It has also solidified my desire to pursue a career that involves finance and real estate.”
Connect with Divya on LinkedIn
Were Ojiambo is from Nairobi, Kenya. He will graduate in May 2027 with a Finance major and a Real Estate Finance minor. Were is currently pursuing internship opportunities focused on Real Estate Private Equity, Acquisitions, and Capital Markets. “Attending the PRES Capital Markets 101 event had a profound impact on me, as it helped me understand how capital flows influence real estate investment decisions. Hearing directly from industry professionals explain how deals are structured from sourcing and underwriting to financing and closing. This reinforced the connection between financial analysis and real estate strategy.”
Connect with Were  on LinkedIn
Fritz Olthof is from Lowell, Indiana. He will graduate in December 2026 with a Finance major and minors in Real Estate Finance and Construction Management. Fritz is currently pursuing internship opportunities in commercial real estate. Real Estate Investment and Development is his favorite real estate class so far. “Professor Eriksen is extremely knowledgeable in the subject and brings an incredible perspective to the class along with all of the guest speakers. It has given me insights into emerging real estate markets and how to build success within the industry.”
Connect with Fritz on LinkedIn
Charlie Orris is from Fishers, Indiana. He will graduate in May 2027 with a Finance major and minors in Real Estate Finance and Construction Management. This summer he will work as a development intern with Link Logistics, a Blackstone Portfolio Company, in Dallas, Texas. His favorite real estate experience so far has been the Chicago Trek. “It was so cool to network with other students and successful Purdue graduates! I also loved the Thompson Center tour.”
Connect with Charlie on LinkedIn
Marili Perez is from Madison, Indiana. She will graduate in May 2026 with a Finance major with a Real Estate Finance minor and a Certificate in Data Science Analytics. After graduation, Marili will be joining Eli Lilly as a Finance Associate. “I really enjoyed my Investments and Development class with Professor Eriksen. Aside from exciting and interesting content, every Friday a real estate professional would come to class and talk about their experience within CRE and how they ended up in their designated field. I always enjoyed hearing everyone's diverse work experiences and it was interesting to hear how many opportunities there are within CRE - industrial, medical, multi-family, hotels etc.”
Connect with Marili on LinkedIn
Niharika Rai is from New Delhi, India and Doha, Qatar. She will graduate in May 2027 with a major in Business Analytics and Information Management; minors in Economics and Real Estate Finance; and a Certificate in Applications in Data Science. Niharika is currently pursuing internship opportunities in the Tech and Real Estate industries.
Connect with Niharika on LinkedIn
Elliot Rivera-Dumont
is from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. He will graduate in May 2027 with a major in Finance and minors in Accounting and Real Estate Finance. He is pursuing a capital markets and commercial real estate internships. “My favorite Real Estate Program experience was the fall break trip to Chicago, where I had the opportunity to hear Tom Heneghan, CEO at Equity International, speak about the company’s global investments and his experience working with Sam Zell. Beyond learning about Equity International’s work, I was inspired by how he described Zell’s leadership and philosophy, which motivated me to read Sam Zell’s book Am I Being Too Subtle? to better understand how he thought about business and real estate.”
Connect with Elliot on LinkedIn
Filippa Rodriguez is from Bogotá, Colombia and Milan, Italy. She will graduate in May 2026 with a Business Analytics and Information Management major, with minors in Accounting and Real Estate Finance. After graduation, Filippa will begin her career with PGIM Real Estate in New York. As co-president of the Purdue Real Estate Society in 2025, Filippa says her favorite memory of the Real Estate Program is working with her fellow PRES officers. “Such fun people, lots of laughs and group bonding!!”
Connect with Filippa on LinkedIn
Nathan Sauvé is from Oconomowoc (oh-cahn-oh-mo-wauk), Wisconsin. He will graduate in May 2027 with Finance and General Management majors and a Real Estate Finance minor. Nathan is currently working as a corporate accounting intern for Cerity Partners, hoping to get into their wealth management program. “My favorite Real Estate event was the Chicago trek. I not only got to tour very successful real estate companies, but got the opportunity to meet more people within the club.”
Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn
Nathan Smith is from Indianapolis, Indiana. He will graduate in May 2027 with a Construction Management Technology major; minors in Accounting, Real Estate, Construction Graphics, and Advanced Global Technology; and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. This summer he will be working as a project engineer intern for Compass Commercial Construction Group in Indianapolis. “My favorite class is Real Estate Fundamentals. I feel like I am gaining a great foundation of relevant knowledge.”
Connect with Nathan on LinkedIn
Sam Stewart is from Carmel, Indiana. He will graduate in May 2027 with a Finance major and minors in Accounting & Real Estate Finance. This summer, Sam will work as a Capital Markets Summer Analyst for JLL in Chicago. Sam has a lot of favorites from his time in the Real Estate Program. “My favorite Real Estate Program event was this year's Chicago Trek. My favorite class so far is MGMT 370 (Real Estate Fundamentals). My favorite case competition so far this year is the NAIOP Real Estate Challenge. My favorite speaker so far was Nicole Klotz from Blue Owl Capital.”
Connect with Sam on LinkedIn
Aleksandar Suvajlo is from Saint John, Indiana. He will graduate in May 2027 with majors in Finance and Quantitative Business Economics and a minor in Real Estate Finance. Aleksandar is pursuing internships related to asset management, equity research, or business valuation.
Connect with Aleksandar on LinkedIn
Ian Teh is from Portland, Oregon. He will graduate in May 2027 with a Finance major and a minor in Real Estate Finance. This summer, Ian will be working at Thompson Thrift as a Market Research Intern. He will assist the Acquisitions and Capital Markets teams with market analysis and research, evaluating real estate trends, supporting deal sourcing efforts, and contributing to investment strategy decisions through data-driven insights.
Connect with Ian on LinkedIn
Adam Vaughn is from Dexter, Michigan. He will graduate in May 2027 with a Finance major and minors in Economics and Real Estate Finance. He is currently pursuing internships with commercial real estate companies looking for a financial analyst or underwriting intern role. “My favorite real estate program so far has been the trip to Chicago. I was able to learn from multiple firms about what their different employees do on a day-to-day basis, which was very impactful for me as I am trying to figure out my career after graduation.”
Connect with Adam on LinkedIn
Luke Wilson is from Noblesville, Indiana. He will graduate in May 2026 with a Finance major and a Real Estate Finance minor. “After graduation I plan to become a financial analyst and begin my journey in real estate development. My two internships at an industrial development company and a small residential investment group provided clarity and have set me up perfectly for my career.” Luke’s favorite event was the Real Estate Chicago Trek. “The trip had a huge impact on my view of the industry and how it operates in a major city such as Chicago. It was awesome to experience and network in the two days we toured the city.”
Connect with Luke on LinkedIn