Khalil Clements is frank when asked what The Ohio State University Center for Real Estate has meant to him.

“I wouldn’t be where I’m at without the center,” said Clements, who graduated in August with a finance degree.

Clements enters the workforce with experience in real estate, having completed an internship at the Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing — an opportunity made possible by connection through the Center for Real Estate.

“Everything I’ve done with the center has helped change the trajectory of my career significantly,” said Clements, a member of the Ohio Army National Guard.

Clements’ experience is just one example of the many ways the center is delivering on its mission to advance real estate through educational opportunities, academic research and outreach and partnerships with the real estate community.

“We have exceptional students here at Ohio State, and I am delighted that the center is able to connect them with a variety of opportunities to explore and learn about real estate,” said Mary Beth McCormick, executive director of the Center for Real Estate. “These connections are shaping their futures while providing leading companies with top talent capable and ready to make a real difference in the industry.”

Demonstrating the support it has from its board members and from the real estate community, the center recently announced a pair of philanthropic gifts benefitting students associated with the center, as well as the operation of the center.

The partners of Almanac Realty Investors have established the John D. McGurk/Almanac Realty Investors Fund for Veterans at The Ohio State University. The fund will provide scholarships to military-connected students at Ohio State who demonstrate financial need and plan to pursue careers in real estate. The $250,000 gift honors the memory of John D. McGurk, the founding partner of Almanac Realty Investors, who served in the United States Coast Guard during the Vietnam War.

David Adelman (BA ’94), of Campus Apartments, has committed $250,000 to provide funding for the anticipated growth in center initiatives, improve the scope and quality of programming and create additional opportunities for our students to engage with center members and the real estate community.

The gifts will have an immediate impact on students such as Clements and Greg Showalter, a finance student. After spending nine years as a member of the U.S. Air Force in active duty and reserve roles, Showalter enrolled at Fisher in 2017 with an interest in real estate. He has taken full advantage of a number of center-sponsored opportunities, including a mentoring program and networking events.

“Real estate is a relationship business, and for someone starting out, especially someone with entrepreneurial aspirations, that requires access,” Showalter said. “The mentorship program not only gives mentees custom-tailored guidance, but also the invaluable access required to build great relationships.”

“After just one year of involvement with the center, I gained a mentor, completed two real estate case competitions and met a community of faculty, practitioners and fellow students with similar interests—many of whom are now friends. Without these opportunities, it might have been many years before I’d be able to actively pursue my entrepreneurial aspirations of commercial real estate ownership and development.”

Clements said he benefitted from the center’s ongoing breakfast discussions and panel presentations. In addition to hearing from local real estate leaders on topics they’re facing in the industry, he took advantage of the opportunity to meet and network with them.

“Hearing leaders from New York, Columbus and Cleveland give their market analyses in a personal environment was really interesting,” Clements said. “I’m a student for life and a firm believer in always learning. Being able to sit next to a developer, hear the questions he or she is asking and to learn from it is great. I’m incredibly appreciative of the center’s support of these lifelong learning opportunities.”