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.

Gender

Men 58%
Women 42%

Race

White 33%
Asian 33%
Latine 21%
Black 8%
Indigenous 4%
Students of Color = 67%
Underrepresented Minorities = 33%

Age

Average age = 29.6 yrs
22-25 yrs = 25%
26-29 yrs = 25%
30-34 yrs = 33%
35+ yrs = 17%

Background

Business & Real Estate – 29%
Architecture – 21%
Other* – 50%
*includes Civil Engineering, Public Policy, Political Science, Economics, History, Urban & Environmental Policy, among others.

Selected Previous Universities

Stanford University, Princeton University, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, University of Michigan, University of Southern California, Tulane University, Sci-Arc, Occidental College, CEIBS, Leeds University, among others.

Selected Previous Employers

Arquitectonica, Bjarke Ingels Group, Caruso, CBRE, Enterprise Community Partners, JLL, JPMorgan, Marcus & Millichap, Tesla, Trammell Crow, Walmart, among others.

Meet the 2025–26 Cohort

James Butler, MRED ’26

James Butler, MRED ’26

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

University: University of California, Berkeley
Degree: B.A. in Rhetoric
Previous Role: Commercial Real Estate Banking, JPMorgan

Francisco Castañeda, MRED ’26

Francisco Castañeda, MRED ’26

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, MRED ’26

Bob Chen, MRED ’26

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, MRED ’26

RouYu (Amanda) Chen, MRED ’26

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, MRED ’26

Chih-Heng (Vicky) Chuang, MRED ’26

Hometown: Tainan, Taiwan

University: National Cheng Kung University
Degree: B.S. in Architecture
Previous Role: Project Manager and Designer, WYL ARCHITECTS

Chayson Greenfield, MRED ’26

Chayson Greenfield, MRED ’26

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, MRED ’26

Layla Hademi, MRED ’26

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, MRED ’26

Jessica Hamra, MRED ’26

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, MRED ’26

Kyle Kallman, MRED ’26

Hometown: Old Greenwich, Connecticut

University: Colorado College
Degree: B.A. in English
Previous Role: Transaction Associate at Win Properties

David Kerns, MRED ’26

David Kerns, MRED ’26

Hometown: Long Beach, California

University: California State University, Dominguez Hills
Degree: M.A. in Special Education
Previous Role: Real Estate Instructor

Ktoo Khant, MRED ’26

Ktoo Khant, MRED ’26

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, MRED ’26

Sevan Krikorian, MRED ’26

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, MRED ’26

Keying Liang, MRED ’26

Hometown: Zhuhai, China

University: University of California, Berkeley
Degree: B.A. in Architecture
Previous Role: Architectural designer

Zhaoxin Liang, MRED ’26

Zhaoxin Liang, MRED ’26

Hometown: Qingdao, Shandong, China

University: University of York
Degree: Bachelor of Science in Economics and Finance
Previous Role: Public Relations

Diana Liu, MRED ’26

Diana Liu, MRED ’26

Hometown: Shenzhen, China

University: China Europe International, Beijing Technology & Business University
Degree: Global Executive MBA; B.S. in Insurance
Previous Role: Tesla; Senior Director of Real Estate & Asset Management

Vanessa Montiel, MRED ’26

Vanessa Montiel, MRED ’26

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

Conner Noon, MRED ’26

Conner Noon, MRED ’26

Hometown: San Diego, California

University: University of California, Berkeley
Degree: B.A. in Economics
Previous Role: Development Analyst, Trammell Crow Residential

Ariela Osuna, MRED ’26

Ariela Osuna, MRED ’26

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, MRED ’26

Christopher Paige, MRED ’26

Hometown: Honolulu, Hawaii

University: Princeton University
Degree: B.A. in Politics minor in East Asian Studies
Previous Role: Student and athlete at Princeton

William Rosenbloom, MRED ’26

William Rosenbloom, MRED ’26

Hometown: Winnetka, Illinois

University: Yale University
Degree: B.A. in History
Previous Role: Development Analyst at esVolta

Jake Simenhoff, MRED ’26

Jake Simenhoff, MRED ’26

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, MRED ’26

Adriana Torres Ceja, MRED ’26

Hometown: Eastern Coachella Valley, California

University: Stanford University
Degree: B.A. and M.A. in Public Policy with focus on Urban Development and Policy
Previous Role: Development Intern-Frolic Community & Preservation Intern-Enterprise Community Partners

Ethan (Zhihao) Wang, MRED ’26

Ethan (Zhihao) Wang, MRED ’26

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, MRED ’26

Ari Zeen, MRED ’26

Hometown: Huntington Beach, California

University: California State University, Long Beach
Degree: B.A. in English Literature
Previous Role: Mortgage Broker, Pacific Southwest Realty Services