MRE Students 2023-24

Leonard O. Allen-Smith is the founder and CEO of Allen Smith Equities, a NYC-based real estate development and advisory firm. Established in 2022, the firm has completed more than $5M in transactions. Leonard is also Managing Partner at East Chop Capital. Founded in 2018, the company has cultivated a portfolio of luxury vacation rental homes across six states. A certified public accountant, Leonard previously worked at KPMG, offering tax compliance services to REITs and investment firms. Holding both a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and an MBA, Leonard is a distinguished alumnus of Hampton University.

Pinyang Paul Chen is a dedicated value investor committed to uncovering opportunities in real estate. With an understanding of the complexities of real estate investment, Paul strives to navigate the ever-evolving landscape and seize potential value. Inspired by industry luminaries, Paul's unwavering pursuit of knowledge and intrinsic value stands out. His experiences span real estate acquisition, asset management, entrepreneurship, and urban design, lending a unique depth to his investment endeavors. Paul holds a Master of Landscape Architecture in Urban Design from Harvard, where he was honored with the Ferdinand Colloredo-Mansfeld Prize for Exceptional Achievement in Real Estate Studies.

Cristobal Correa Ehlers is a Chilean architect with 15 years of experience in architectural design and project management, with more than five million square feet of projects representing investments of over USD 360 million, along with over 16 million square feet of master planning. He is the founder of his architecture firm CCE Architects and 3CoGroup (Comprehensive Consultancy Coordination Group). In 2008, he worked with British architect Lord Norman Foster at his main London studio and was named one of Chile’s 100 most influential young leaders in 2010. Cristobal has been an architecture professor for over seven years at Andres Bello National University (Chile).

Jiayu Cui joins GSD with a multidisciplinary academic background. She received a Bachelor's degree in Architecture and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Tsinghua University. Prior to the MRE program， Jiayu interned in various sectors of the real estate industry, including design companies, developers, and the real estate investment trust team of an investment bank in Beijing. With advanced skills in data analytics, she aims to explore data-driven models informing the decision-making process in the real estate business.

Brendan D’Loren has served as Director of Development for Terwilliger & Bartone Properties overseeing all development and design efforts for projects in the Northeast and Ohio Markets. His expertise includes financial analysis, debt and equity structuring, acquisitions, dispositions, and project management. Previously, Brendan served as Development Associate at Terwilliger Pappas, focusing on ground-up multi-family and mixed-use development throughout the Southeast. Brendan holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Trinity College, is a member of Urban Land Institute and its Young Leaders Group, and is a 2023 Long Island Business News “30 Under 30” honoree.

Jaime Espinoza joins the Master in Real Estate program after 10 years of professional experience with Los Angeles City Planning. In that capacity, he was responsible for the review and entitlement of 90+ commercial and residential projects citywide. Jaime also retooled City Planning’s public participation efforts, and played a pivotal role in drafting the framework for LA's new zoning code. He earned multiple American Planning Association awards, including accolades for Public Outreach and Innovation in Green Community Planning. Jaime hopes the MRE program can help him pivot to project development and feasibility to aid in sustainable growth strategies for our future cities.

Amer Farhat was previously an Associate Director of Feasibility at Red Sea Global (RSG), a public investment fund backed developer, creating mixed use hospitality projects along the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia. His role was to assess the feasibility of various projects in RSG’s portfolio as well as secure development financing and joint venture partnerships. Prior to this role, Amer was an associate at a United Arab Emirates based Asset Manager as well as a development consultant at JLL. Amer holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the American University of Beirut.

Joe Harvey is a United Kingdom-born and raised built environment professional with a passion for placemaking. He has an undergraduate degree in Economics and a master’s degree in City Planning and Regeneration. For the past five years, he has worked in the planning department of Glasgow, Scotland, where he has been responsible for undertaking urban analysis, producing strategy and policy documents, and contributing to the delivery of regeneration projects. Joe has an ambition to develop thoughtfully designed, community-driven real estate projects and is excited to upgrade his skills through the Master in Real Estate program.

After graduating from West Point, Steve Hemmann served twelve years on Active Duty as an Officer in the United States Army. His leadership experience includes graduating U.S. Army Ranger School and commanding a Special Forces ATeam (“Green Berets”) during combat operations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. After his military service Steve returned to his hometown, St. Louis, and started a company with his brother Erik. Their firm has been purchasing and rehabbing single-family homes since 2016. Steve intends to leverage his leadership and construction background to scale operations and take on larger development projects in St. Louis and beyond.

Chris Howe is originally from the Washington, DC area and completed his undergraduate studies at Sewanee: The University of the South, where he played football and baseball. Chris began his career on the Research team at Cushman & Wakefield in their DC office. Following his time at C&W, Chris transitioned to Multifamily Acquisitions and Development at The Lynd Company in San Antonio, Texas. At Lynd, Chris and his team completed $671M in acquisitions and had $1.3B active in development. Chris also worked along side the asset management and property management teams to ensure the solubility of Lynd's projects. Chris is also a co-founder of a real estate technology start up designed to revolutionize the 3D virtual tour process

Jasmine Ibrahim has six years of experience in the global real estate and infrastructure private equity industry. She has been an Assistant Vice President, Investments at Khazanah Nasional Berhad, where she is involved in all aspects of investment management such as assessing and operationalizing investment funds as well as managing and monitoring investee companies and mixed-use development projects. Jasmine holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Real Estate and Planning majoring in Capital Appraisal and Asset Management from the University of Reading, accredited by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. She is also a probationary valuer with the Malaysian Board of Valuers and Appraisers.

Samika Jain completed her undergraduate degree from New York University’s Stern School of Business, graduating magna cum laude with concentrations in Finance and Data Science and a minor in Urban Planning & Architecture. Samika previously worked within the Portfolio Management team at Tishman Speyer where she was involved in fund management, asset strategy execution, and investor relations. She also founded a non-profit called REDEI, a first-of-its-kind global community driven professional platform that supports and enables South Asian women to achieve their potential and succeed in the real estate industry.

Born and raised in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, then educated as an architect in Southern Louisiana, Chris James, AIA, NCARB, is an accomplished professional with six years of design and project management experience. Both his undergraduate research and architectural practice have explored socio-ecological resilience in the built environment, from the study of oyster reefs as a coastal construction material, to the design of a community park in rural Louisiana. Chris is pursuing his Master in Real Estate at Harvard to expand his agency as an architect to realize community development goals through real estate management, development, investment, and practice.

Todd Joy is the founder of Habitat, a Toronto based development & property management company. Habitat’s mission is to address the affordable housing crisis and loneliness epidemic in Toronto through the construction of community-activated, co-living rental buildings. Todd’s projects push the boundaries of policy and building methodologies to fulfill new markets for communal and flexible term living opportunities. His approach to building challenges notions of traditional development through unique design and building typologies, advanced financing practices, and innovative operational models. Previously, Todd launched Urban Rental Management, a full-service property management company tailored to short & long term rentals in Toronto.

Adam Kent is a licensed real estate attorney, design enthusiast, and admirer of sustainability. Adam practiced mostly in-house representing private equity firms, real estate sponsors and managers, investment funds, and developers, each with national real estate portfolios of varying levels of distress. While practicing, Adam developed and launched a real estate technology tool for multi-family portfolios focused on replacing deposits with data-driven insurance targeting bad debt. Adam received a BA in economics with honors from the University of California, Irvine, and a JD from the University of California, Davis School of Law.

Throughout his career, Danny Kradjian has demonstrated a deep passion for the built environment and for creating buildings that positively impact their surroundings. He is the Founder and Principal of Hillock Land Company, a Los Angeles-based development firm focused on design-conscious mixed-use and multifamily projects in urbanizing neighborhoods. Since the firm’s inception in 2014, Danny has directed each site acquisition, established the development vision, and led each stage of the development process in delivering three signature properties within the Los Angeles market. Danny received his Bachelor’s Degree (magna cum laude) in International Relations and Global Business from the University of Southern California.

Originally trained as an architect, Clarence Lee completed his architectural studies at the University of Sydney (B. Arch) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M. Arch) before transitioning into specialist architectural consulting at Front Inc. His work as a facade consultant has involved him in multiple high profile projects around the United States, including the new Perelman Center for Performing Arts in New York City, the Seaport L5 development in Boston, and the Longwood Gardens extension in Pennsylvania.

Weijia Li's professional journey is characterized by a diverse range of experiences. She served as an associate within Warburg Pincus' real estate team in Shanghai, where she gained valuable experience underwriting and managing portfolio companies of various types of commercial real estate, including affordable rental housing, data centers, and private credit. Preceding her time at Warburg Pincus, Weijia was an analyst in CITIC Capital's Principal Investment team, making contributions to fund-level investments and operations. Weijia holds a BS (Hons) in Mathematics with Management and Finance from the King's College London and a MA in Computational Social Science from the University of Chicago.

Etta Madete is a licensed architect passionate about affordable and sustainable housing. She is the co-founder of Zima homes, an award-winning Kenyan developer delivering sustainable homes under KES 4M ($32 K). Passionate about advocacy, Etta is a Lecturer (TF) at University of Nairobi, EDGE Expert, Aspen and Mandela Washington Fellow, and a sought-after speaker. She has co-led acclaimed exhibitions at the Barbican and at the Guggenheim with Rem Koolhaas and has over 15 publications in Aljazeera and Architectural Record, amongst others. Etta has an Undergraduate and Masters in sustainable architecture from University of Nairobi.

Kamsai Onchanok Nawapruek holds a BSc in Architectural Design from Chulalongkorn University. She started her career as an architect at P&T Group before becoming a real estate analyst at CBRE Thailand. With a keen interest in mixed-use development and finance, she joined the MRE program to explore senior housing solutions in urban contexts via Public-Private Partnerships. Her goal is to apply these approaches in developing nations and address societal challenges faced by aging populations. Outside of work, Kamsai enjoys practicing yoga, diving, and dedicating her time to volunteer teaching.

Nancy Ngai completed her undergraduate studies in surveying at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and earned her master's degree in construction project management from the University of Hong Kong. She has worked as a project coordinator with a Hong Kong developer, involving the management of mixed-use projects in China and wrote an article on modular construction. She enjoys exploring new things, cooking, and brewing coffee in her spare time.

Brandon Nolasco graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Architecture and an academic focus in real estate. His thesis explored the intersection between historic preservation and adaptive redevelopment. During his final year, Brandon teamed with the New York City Housing Authority, the state’s Public Design Commission, and Made in Brownsville (a nonprofit introducing disconnected youth to STEM) to reimagine Brownsville public housing. Fusing community-centric engagement with multi-market analysis, Brandon joined Weitzman Associates, where he led marketability/feasibility studies and commercial valuations. Brandon aspires to develop affordable residential and mixed-use projects that revitalize aging urban cores and grow smaller/mid-size cities.

After graduating from McGill University with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a minor in business management, Mark Owen joined Mondev, his family’s real estate development business in Montreal. There, he focused on deal sourcing and market analytics in the Quebec market and successfully created a landowner database with over one million entries. That database facilitated the off-market acquisition of over 500 units in several multifamily properties, for which he managed end-to-end development. At Harvard, Mark wants to expand his knowledge of real estate finance, technology, and sustainable design to realize his belief that real estate development can positively shape cities, influence culture, and generate returns for investors.

Daniel Park holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California and is a Toigo Real Estate Intensive Scholar. Before attending Harvard, Daniel had nearly a decade of underwriting, acquisitions, and asset management experience working for prominent multifamily owners and operators such as Veritas Investments, Related Companies, and MidPen Housing, where he had an integral role in acquiring, underwriting, and asset managing large multi-billion-dollar portfolios consisting of more than 100 properties.

Aayush Puri, the mind behind ANACITY, a proptech-driven community management system, oversees technology that currently serves 6,000 gated communities and 600,000 apartments across 80 cities. Actively engaged in global conferences, Puri disseminates insights on technology, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure management. With a passionate commitment to reshaping real estate, he is currently pursuing a Master in Real Estate at Harvard University. Having contributed to Blackstone Group subsidiary, Mphasis, and studied at Washington University in St. Louis and the London School of Economics and Political Science, Puri's multifaceted expertise lies at the intersection of real estate innovation and technological advancement.

Bryant Riley is a real estate professional with experience in private equity, development, and social impact. Before joining the MRE program, Bryant worked as a development associate at Magellan Development, a Chicago-based firm that specializes in complex high-rise residential and mixed-use projects. Prior to Magellan, he held a senior associate role at Green Courte Partners, focusing on senior housing acquisitions. Bryant began his real estate career as an acquisitions and asset management professional at Shift Capital, a Philadelphia-based social impact real estate group. Committed to being a catalyst for change in urban communities, he served as a program director at Minds Matter Philly, a college prep program for high-achieving, low-income high school students. Bryant is a South Side Chicago native.

Juan Pedro San Martin (JP) is a current candidate in Harvard University’s Master of Real Estate program. Originally from Dominican Republic, JP relocated to the United States at age 15 to complete high school and pursue higher education, culminating in his BS of Design from the University of Florida (2021). Prior to starting at Harvard, JP worked as an owner’s representative at CBRE’s Project Management division in South Florida. Specializing in high-end office, hospitality, and healthcare projects, he collaborated with clients such as Brookfield Properties and Nicklaus Children’s Health Systems. Among his notable projects is the comprehensive restoration of the historic Mayfair Hotel in Coconut Grove, FL.

Ellie Sheild graduated with Distinction from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design with a masters in urban planning (2023). She earned multiple faculty-conferred awards including the Academic Excellence Award in Urban Planning, the Ferdinand Colloredo-Mansfeld Prize for Superior Achievement in Real Estate Studies, and the peer-nominated Unsung Hero Book Prize for her community contributions. Ellie’s professional background includes being a Senior Planner in North Carolina. An outdoor enthusiast and diehard Tar Heel, Ellie is excited to join Harvard’s inaugural class for the Master in Real Estate program, with an intention of having a socially impactful real estate development career.

Will Sutter hails from Toronto, Canada. His expertise in real estate and urban development is at the intersection of public policy and technology. Will has extensive experience as a senior advisor and management consultant, having worked across the public sector on housing and infrastructure policy, urban revitalization, and public-private partnerships. He was selected to join Google’s Sidewalk Labs Research Fellowship, where he visited cities throughout North America and Europe to learn from examples of innovation in the built environment. Recently, he joined GroundBreak Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that focuses on investments in the real estate and construction sectors.

Emma Turner was born and raised in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston. She started her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, focusing on real estate valuation and advisory services where she obtained her Certified Public Accounting License. She subsequently worked at The Davis Companies, a vertically integrated owner and developer, on their Asset Management team, supporting the team through business plan implementation, financial modeling, and the disposition of assets worth over $550 million. Emma has worked on assets across various product types and in several markets. In her free time, she enjoys running along the Charles River and playing with her family’s golden-doodle, Daisy.

With specialized skills in property economics, leasing, and sustainability, Duncan Whitcomb’s professional experience is as lengthy as it is varied. As an active member and former Fiala Fellow of the International Council of Shopping Centers as well as a designated LEED AP Building Design and Construction (BD+C) with the U.S. Green Building Council, he has put his knowledge to good use in a variety of industry-related roles. Duncan holds a Bachelor of Community Design from Dalhousie University and a Master of Sustainable Urban Development from the University of Oxford. In his spare time Duncan enjoys watching Bravo with his wife Nane.

Brendan Willis is a licensed architect with 10 years of experience in multi-family residential design and construction. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and Studio Art from Dartmouth College and a Master of Architecture from Washington University in St. Louis. He started his career working for an architect-developer in New York City and has most recently been an Associate and Director of Architecture at Utile, a multi-disciplinary design and planning firm in Boston. He is now pursuing his Master in Real Estate in order to further understand the financial realities and mechanisms that allow for good design and urbanism.

Joseph Yu is a real estate development professional who is passionate about placemaking. He began his career with Cresa as a Project Coordinator supporting Tenant Improvement and Landlord capital projects. Most recently, Joseph was a Development Associate at Related where he worked on all aspects of development. This includes managing design, financing, entitlements, construction, and lease-up of more than 600 affordable housing units throughout California. With five years of commercial real estate experience, Joseph is excited to advance his knowledge in the Master in Real Estate program to support his career goal in mixed-use acquisitions and development.