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ean Weidner Donates $10 Million to Launch Weidner Business and Real Estate Center at OSU
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
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Dean Weidner, chairman and founder of Weidner Apartment Homes, has pledged a historic $10 million gift that will create the Weidner Business and Real Estate Center within Oklahoma State University’s Spears School of Business. The center will become a national hub for real‑estate education, offering experiential learning, scholarships, and professional development to shape the next generation of industry leaders.
OSU President Jim Hess praised the gift: “We are deeply grateful for Dean Weidner’s monumental contribution, which will position OSU as a national leader in real‑estate education. This investment will empower our students to shape the future of the industry by equipping them with knowledge, experience, and connections needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving field.”
The donation also established the Weidner Real Estate and Property Management bachelor’s program, launched in fall 2025 and the first of its kind in Oklahoma. The program, a collaboration among the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, the Department of Finance, and the Department of Economics, focuses on building, managing, and maintaining real‑estate assets across residential, commercial, industrial, and other sectors.
Dr. Jim Payne, dean of Spears Business, said, “This gift is transformational for the Spears School and for real‑estate education in Oklahoma. The Weidner Business and Real Estate Center will place us at the forefront of preparing students for careers in this vital industry. Dean Weidner’s continued investment demonstrates his commitment to building the next generation of professionals, providing hands‑on learning, industry connections, and support that will help students succeed.”
The gift also fuels OSU’s $2 billion “The Code Calls” fundraising campaign, launched last week. Weidner has long supported real‑estate initiatives at universities across the United States and Canada, including the University of Colorado‑Colorado Springs, the University of Alaska‑Anchorage, Ball State University, MacEwan University, the University of Wisconsin‑Stout, and Western Technical College.
Founded in 1977, Weidner Apartment Homes manages properties in 13 states and four Canadian provinces, with a focus on improving residents’ lives through professionally managed, engaging, and comfortable apartment communities. The company employs many OSU graduates, who are praised for their dedication, work ethic, and readiness for the physical demands of real‑estate management.
“We believe training should begin at the college level,” Weidner said. “Real‑estate careers require professionals who can walk, fix, and renovate properties, not just sit behind a computer. We want students who have done chores, worked schedules, and can work independently.”
In 2018, Weidner donated $1 million to OSU to fund a property‑management specialization program and created the Dean Weidner Property Management Endowed Scholarship Fund, which has awarded 54 scholarships to date. To date, 94 students have earned the Property and Real‑Estate Management certificate from Spears Business, and 157 are enrolled in the bachelor’s or certificate program.
Dr. Brij Thapa, vice dean of Spears Business, noted, “Dean Weidner’s gift transcends traditional philanthropy, forging a dynamic partnership that bridges academic study and real‑world industry demand. The Weidner Business and Real Estate Center, bachelor’s degree, and certificate programs have transformed our approach, enhanced our strategic position, and equipped students with essential skills for immediate success. They have established Spears Business as a national leader in real‑estate education, creating a lasting legacy regionally and nationwide.”
