Manhattan, NY The Fordham Real Estate Institute (REI) has named Joshua Harris, Ph.D., CRE, as the executive director of REI at the Lincoln Center campus in New York City. Harris is responsible for external relations, overseeing curriculum development, promoting thought leadership among the faculty, and expanding program offerings
Harris is the managing partner of the Lakemont Group, a real estate and economic consultancy with offices in New York and Orlando, Fla. He specializes in real estate development, finance, capital markets, and business organizational leadership and strategy.
He is the newly named chair of the Counselors of Real Estate’s Economic Advisory Council, an 11-member group of thought-leaders providing economic forecasting and analysis of indicators, fiscal policies and property market data for commercial real estate. He is a former adjunct professor of Real Estate Development at REI.
“We’re delighted to have Joshua Harris join us as executive director of the Fordham Real Estate Institute,” said Dr. Anthony Davidson, dean, Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies. “His vast knowledge of economics, real estate and capital markets, and his leadership skills will be extremely beneficial as we develop innovative programs to prepare future leaders of real estate and business.”
“I am thrilled to collaborate with the amazing faculty and team at Fordham’s Real Estate Institute,” said Harris. “REI has a very strong curriculum and the instructors are industry leaders, with real-world experience. I look forward to working together to further develop REI’s offerings of unique and timely programs as we grow our enrollment and our national – and international – prominence.”
Currently, Harris is overseeing the launch of a hybrid one-year program for REI’s Master of Science in Real Estate and Master of Science in Real Estate Development that pairs flexible online courses with short, intensive residencies on the Lincoln Center campus. During the 12-month program, which begins in July 2024, students meet in-person five times to attend daytime sessions and collaborate on team projects. Students complete 16.5 credits on campus and 19.5 credits online for a total of 36 credits. International students with F-1 visas may take one online course each fall and spring semester and therefore complete the majority of the remaining 19.5 credits on campus. Registration begins in March 2024.
“This new hybrid program format allows a student to efficiently come to New York City to study real estate in one of the most dynamic markets in the world, build a diverse network, and be ready to work in the industry globally in just one year,” said Harris.
Prior to returning to his role at the Lakemont Group in 2023, Harris was the vice president of Investment Strategy for Skanska USA Commercial Development, a leading developer of high-rise office, multifamily and mixed-used projects nationwide. Previously, he held leadership roles at NYU’s Schack Institute of Real Estate and the University of Central Florida’s Dr. P. Phillips School of Real Estate. He earned a Ph.D. in Finance from the University of Central Florida, and holds the Chartered Alternative Investment Analyst (CAIA) designation, has been named an Honorary Kentucky Colonel, a NAIOP Research Foundation Distinguished Fellow, a Counselor of Real Estate (CRE), and a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM).