Our Inaugural 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%
Age
Average age = 29.6 yrs
- 22-25 yrs = 25%
- 26-29 yrs = 25%
- 30-34 yrs = 33%
- 35+ yrs = 17%
Race
White 33%
Asian 33%
Latine 21%
Black 8%
Indigenous 4%
Students of Color = 67%
Underrepresented Minorities = 33%
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
Meet the 2025–26 Cohort
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
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
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
Hometown: Taipei City, Taiwan
University: University of Michigan
Degree: B.A. in Economics
Previous Role: Project Manager
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
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)
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
Hometown: Old Greenwich, Connecticut
University: Colorado College
Degree: B.A. in English
Previous Role: Transaction Associate at Win Properties
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
Htoo 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
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 Li, MRED ’26
Hometown: Zhuhai, China
University: University of California, Berkeley
Degree: B.A. in Architecture
Previous Role: Architectural designer
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
Hometown: Shenzhen, China
University: China Europe International, Beijing Technology & Business University
Degree: Global Executive MBA; B.S. in Insurance
Previous Role: Walmart, Sr. Director Real Estate & Asset Management
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
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
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
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
Hometown: Winnetka, Illinois
University: Yale University
Degree: B.A. in History
Previous Role: Development Analyst at esVolta
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
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
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
Hometown: Huntington Beach, California
University: California State University, Long Beach
Degree: B.A. in English Literature
Previous Role: Mortgage Broker, Pacific Southwest Realty Servicesv