CREF Careers Student Fellowship Program
CREF Careers Student Fellowship Program is an annual one-of-a kind opportunity to jumpstart your career in the $4.9 trillion commercial real estate finance (CREF) industry. Open to current college and university students, the CREF Careers Student Fellowship provides an inside look at this dynamic field through:
- Monthly virtual seminars with industry leaders covering a variety of professional development topics
- Career coaching from HR professionals at leading commercial real estate firms
- Mentorship and networking opportunities with top commercial real estate finance professionals
- Attendance at MBA’s Commercial Real Estate Finance (CREF) Convention in San Diego, the largest gathering of CREF professionals in the nation (stipend for travel, lodging, and expenses included)
- Consideration for the David H. Stevens, CMB® Real Estate Legacy Scholarship
- And more throughout the year
The CREF Careers Student Fellowship program is designed for students interested in learning more about and securing internships, jobs, and careers in this dynamic industry.
Deadline to Apply: July 31, 2026
How to Apply: To apply to become a CREF Careers Student Fellow, please apply and submit your resume, a letter of recommendation, and a copy of your most recent transcript via the buttons below.
See What Past Fellows Have to Say
Being selected for this program has been an incredible honor, and I’m deeply grateful for the investment MBA has made in my development. Attending [MBA CREF26] in San Diego was especially impactful. The experience of traveling to the conference, engaging with industry leaders, and seeing the commercial real estate finance ecosystem operate at scale brought everything to life in a way that classroom learning simply cannot replicate. The exposure to such a dynamic and collaborative community reinforced why I am excited about pursuing a career in commercial real estate finance.
Corey Brandon, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill '26 (2025 Fellow)
The student fellowship program gave me an incredible chance to both learn from the best in the industry and connect with peers who will shape finance alongside me. Throughout the event, I listened to high-level executives share candid insights on their firms and market outlooks, while economists offered down-to-earth breakdowns of key trends. What stood out was how welcoming and open the entire environment was. Every panel was interactive, with room for questions and genuine dialogue. Equally impactful was meeting other fellows from across the country. We not only discussed our career goals but built personal connections that will last well beyond San Diego. I left feeling energized, connected, and excited for what’s next. I absolutely hope to return next year.
Meelan Dessejour, University of Wisconsin-Madison '28 (2025 Fellow)
Being selected for the MBA CREF Fellowship has been a defining experience in my development within commercial real estate finance. The opportunity to attend the MBA CREF Convention in San Diego and engaging directly with industry leaders provided exposure that simply cannot be replicated in a classroom. The program not only deepened my understanding of the market but also allowed me to build meaningful relationships with professionals and peers shaping the industry. For any student serious about a career in commercial real estate finance, the CREF Fellowship is for you!
Zach Talerico, Arizona State University '27 (2025 Fellow)
2025 CREF Careers Student Fellows
Kukua Andoh
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill '27
Ryan Balu
University of Southern California '26
Corey Brandon
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill '26
William Castillo
University of Wisconsin-Madison '26
Meelan Dessejour
University of Wisconsin-Madison '28
Shane Faulkner
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduate Student
Nicholas Fiertek
University of Texas at Austin '27
Chaewon Lee
George Washington University '27
Clara Prieto
Georgia State University '27
Makia Smith
Morgan State University '26
Zain Smith
Georgia State University '26
Crystal Stewart
Georgia State University '26
Cameran Takala
Pennsylvania State University '27
Zach Talerico
Arizona State University '27
Cherry Yang
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Graduate Student
Past CREF Careers Student Fellows
2024
Alexis Anderson
Texas Southern University
Graduate Student
Undram Angar
Bentley University '26
Sofia Bressani
Florida State University '25
Timothy Brown
Carnegie Mellon University '26
Marques Carr
Morgan State University '25
Jazz Ch'ng
University of Pennsylvania '27
Anir Dasgupta
University of Massachusetts Lowell '25
Jessica Grima
University of Chicago
Graduate Student
Jayson Guo
Emory University '26
Navaud Guscott
Benedict College '26
Aminata Konate
Fordham University '25
Essence Leslie
University of Louisville '26
Kaitlin Novak
Georgia State University '25
Philip Omo-Taiga
North Carolina A&T State University '25
Lori Lee Stennett
Howard University '25
Tariq Sule
Georgia State University '25
2023
Taylor Campbell
Howard University '25
Allysha Fischbacher
Benedict College '24
Jackeima Flemming
The University of the Virgin Islands '24
Christian Jennings
George Washington University '25
Emmy Khuu
University of California, Los Angeles '24
Christian Lam
Boston College '25
Teasha McKoy
University at Buffalo Graduate Student
Amari Patterson
Howard University '24
Juan Pulido
Florida State University '24
Matthew Stern
University of Southern California '24
Mariam Tran
Southern Methodist University '25
Leyha Williams
Howard University '24
2022
Aram Apanian
University of Southern California '24
Austen Cannon
University of Miami '25
Simone Edmundson
North Carolina Central University '23
Abraham Espinoza
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) '23
Jasmine Foster
University of Rochester '24
Faith Johnson
North Carolina A&T State University '23
Emily LaCour
Florida State University
Graduate Student
Erick Martinez
Indiana University '24
Angel Mendoza
University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) '24
Cheyanne Powell
Benedict College '23
Brian Rogers
Howard University '25
Linh Tran
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Graduate Student