F
ormer Gies College of Business dean Jeff Brown, now the academic director of the Reichard Real Estate Academy, likens the new program to a major renovation of an existing property—identifying which parts are solid and which need rebuilding. After stepping down in 2024, Brown spent a sabbatical weighing a new leadership role against returning to teaching. He chose the latter, but with a project that would keep him at the center of campus innovation.
The Reichard Real Estate Academy was launched to prepare students for careers in commercial real‑estate. Brown says it builds on Gies’ long‑standing influence in Chicago, where alumni have dominated the industry for decades—a legacy rooted in faculty icon Roger Kennedy’s mentorship of the real‑estate club. The program had fluctuated over time, but when faculty member Seth Briggs proposed revitalizing the field, Brown saw an opportunity to emulate Gies’ successful career academies in investment banking, asset management, and consulting. The result is a student‑centric curriculum that blends coursework with co‑curricular training, networking, and practical job‑market preparation.
A $5 million gift from Illinois native and Chicago investor Nate Reichard accelerated momentum. The funds allow the academy to become a marquee offering, though it will start modestly with 10–12 students per year, focusing on intensive, hands‑on experience so graduates are industry‑ready. This year is devoted to drafting the vision and mission, designing a business plan, and initiating fundraising. Brown is also establishing an alumni advisory board to advise on industry skill demands and expand internship and shadowing opportunities.
Brown’s return to teaching accompanies his academy leadership. He will co‑teach economics in Gies’ online MBA, experimenting with live virtual sessions. “As dean I talked about investing in online, and now I get to experience it firsthand,” he said, praising the support system.
He credits his successor, Dean Brooke Elliott, for accelerating the school’s momentum. In her first year, she opened a new building, expanded undergraduate enrollment beyond projections, and achieved the largest fundraising year in the school’s history outside two record‑setting mega‑gifts. “She’s incredible,” Brown said. “She knows this place, loves it, and is fully committed to the mission. I don’t think we missed a step—she’s actually increased the pace.”
For Brown, the Reichard Real Estate Academy is both a continuation of Gies’ strengths and a new chapter in his career. After years in leadership, he’s back to building programs, teaching, and reconnecting with alumni. “I thought this would be fun,” he said. “I could parachute in, set it up, structure the leadership, and then move on to other projects. It’s a chance to leave something lasting that will prepare students to thrive in an important industry.”
