B
rent Smith, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Business, has been named a Fulbright Specialist. As the CoStar Group Endowed Chair in real estate analytics, Smith specializes in real estate finance and urban economics. He was selected for his expertise in data-driven research and his commitment to serving disadvantaged communities.

    Smith will remain on the program roster for three years, during which time he'll be matched with projects from over 150 countries. His work will focus on using his real estate knowledge to benefit those living in underprivileged areas, drawing from his own experiences growing up in a mobile home park with his single mother.

    A graduate of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis and Notre Dame's MBA program, Smith pursued dual Ph.D.s in public finance and economic geography. Before joining VCU, he spent 25 years as a real estate consultant and had his own firm, which worked across the Midwest and Great Lakes region.

    Smith credits his success to the higher education system in the United States, saying it provided opportunities that wouldn't have been available elsewhere. As a Fulbright Specialist, he aims to give back to developing communities, considering the people who live there as much as the land itself.

    According to Robert Taylor, executive director of VCU's Kornblau Real Estate Program, Smith is an effective advocate and servant due to his humility. Taylor notes that Smith doesn't seek to draw attention to himself, but instead focuses on using his expertise to make a positive impact.