Then comes the final presentation before the professors and managers, and, if accepted, an active trade is then executed.

“At the end of the day, you’re using real money and you have to be able to stand by your investment recommendation,” said Eric Keta ’23, an undergraduate who is enrolled in the REAL ESTATE EMPHASIS program. “This class provided a great lens on ways to analyze data and trends and form a position with confidence.”

Parsons, along with his co-professor Marco Giacoletti, draw students into granular discussions about the sector. “I think the professors are a necessary part of what makes this course so great,” said Keta. “They’re passionate about their research, and great at leading students into discussing and asking the right questions.”

Students describe the class as an ideal blend of technical and conceptual learning. “It was apparent in his teaching that he [Parsons] is always curious,” said Matthew Harrison, who took the class as a senior and is currently in Marshall’s MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION (MSEI) program. “Some days were more technical and mathematically nuanced, and you had to get through that. Other days we’d have discussions that could go on for 40 minutes. It's pretty amazing the amount of work that went into making our investment recommendations. I learned so much.”

Both Keta and Harrison say their experience in the class helped them identify their future goals in the real estate investing world. “Real estate is a monster conglomerate,” said Keta. “And even if I don't necessarily want to work in the REIT world, this class helped open my eyes to where I do fit into real estate.”

The money invested last spring is now awaiting the new cohort of students in spring 2023. Parsons would like to see the class become year-long. “Our fund has been sitting there unmanaged,” he said. “I’d like to see it actively managed by students all year.”