Meet Our Cohort
The UCLA Master of Real Estate Development program draws students from across the country and around the world, all gathering in the dynamic living laboratory of Los Angeles to acquire the state-of-the-art knowledge and industry connections needed to make an immediate, lasting impact in the field.
Our vibrant 2026 cohort includes recent graduates and established professionals, from sectors including commercial investment and environmental advocacy, building construction and residential sales, civil engineering and global markets. They’re now immersed in studies that blend academic rigor and practical relevance, with access to UCLA’s vast interdisciplinary resources and one-to-one mentorship from influential leaders in the industry.
James Butler
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
University: University of California, Berkeley
Degree: B.A. in Rhetoric
Previous Role: Commercial Real Estate Banking, JPMorgan
Francisco Castañeda
Hometown: San Ysidro, California
University: University of California, Los Angeles
Degree: B.A. in Political Science; Minor in Public Affairs
Previous Role: Director of Development, City Heights CDC
Bob Chen
Hometown: Los Angeles, California and Hong Kong
University: University of California, Berkeley
Degree: B.S. in Business Administration; minor in City & Regional Planning
Previous Role: Corporate Strategy
RouYu (Amanda) Chen
Hometown: Taipei City, Taiwan
University: University of Michigan
Degree: B.A. in Economics
Previous Role: Real Estate Consultant, Sinyi Realty Inc.
Chih-Heng (Vicky) Chuang
Hometown: Tainan, Taiwan
University: National Cheng Kung University
Degree: B.S. in Architecture
Previous Role: Project Manager and Designer, WYL ARCHITECTS
Chayson Greenfield
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
University: University of Michigan
Degree: B.S. in Kinesiology; Minor in Entrepreneurship
Previous Role: Project Manager (Residential Construction) / Field Engineer (Geotechnical Engineering)
Layla Hademi
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
University: Occidental College
Degree: B.A. in Urban & Environmental Policy
Previous Role: Advocacy and Public Policy Outreach Associate, Breathe Southern California
Jessica Hamra
Hometown: Orange County, California
University: University of Southern California
Degree: B.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Real Estate Finance
Previous Role: USC student
Kyle Kallman
Hometown: Old Greenwich, Connecticut
University: Colorado College
Degree: B.A. in English
Previous Role: Transaction Associate at Win Properties
David Kerns
Hometown: Long Beach, California
University: California State University, Dominguez Hills
Degree: M.A. in Special Education
Previous Role: Real Estate Instructor
Ktoo Khant
Hometown: Yangon. Myanmar
University: Southern California Institute of Architecture (Sci-Arc)
Degree: B.Arch, Bachelor of Architecture and Building Sciences & Technology
Previous Role: Architectural Designer, Arquitectonica
Sevan Krikorian
Hometown: Pasadena, California
University: University of California, San Diego
Degree: B.S. in Real Estate and Development
Previous Role: Development and Acquisitions at Caruso
Keying Liang
Hometown: Zhuhai, China
University: University of California, Berkeley
Degree: B.A. in Architecture
Previous Role: Architectural designer
Zhaoxin Liang
Hometown: Qingdao, Shandong, China
University: University of York
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance
Previous Role: Public Relations
Diana Liu
Hometown: Shenzhen, China
University: China Europe International
Business School; Beijing Technology & Business University
Degree: Global Executive MBA; B.S. in Insurance
Previous Role: Whitestone (China) Commercial Investment; Real Estate Head, Tesla; Senior Director of Real Estate & Asset Management, Walmart China
Vanessa Montiel
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
University: University of California, Los Angeles
Degree: B.A. in Gender Studies; minor in Labor & Workplace Studies
Previous Role: President, Montiel Estates; Productivity Coach, Keller Williams South Bay
Conner Noon
Hometown: San Diego, California
University: University of California, Berkeley
Degree: B.A. in Economics
Previous Role: Development Analyst, Trammell Crow Residential
Ariela Osuna
Hometown: Tijuana, Mexico and San Diego, California
University: University of Pennsylvania
Degree: B.A. in Architecture; minors in Urban Studies, Art History
Previous Role: Client Strategy Consulting Manager, CBRE Americas Consulting
Christopher Paige
Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii
University: Princeton University
Degree: A.B. in Politics (Political Theory & Certificate in Race & Identity; minor in East Asian Studies
Previous Role: Student and athlete at Princeton
William Rosenbloom
Hometown: Winnetka, Illinois
University: Yale University
Degree: B.A. in History
Previous Role: Development Analyst at esVolta
Jake Simenhoff
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
University: Tulane University
Degree: B.A. in Political Economy; minor in Spanish
Previous Role: Project Manager, Beroukhim & Company (Land Use Consultant)
Adriana Torres Ceja
Hometown: Eastern Coachella Valley, California
University: Stanford University
Degree: B.A. and M.A. in Public Policy with a concentration in Urban Development and Policy
Previous Role: Development Intern-Frolic Community & Preservation Intern-Enterprise Community Partners
Ethan (Zhihao) Wang
Hometown: Shanghai, China
University: University of Leeds; Shandong University
Degree: M.S. Engineering Project Management; B.E. Civil Engineering
Previous Role: Director of Retail Leasing, Seazen Holdings
Ari Zeen
Hometown: Huntington Beach, California
University: California State University, Long Beach
Degree: B.A. in English Literature
Previous Role: Mortgage Broker, Pacific Southwest Realty Services
