Boasting a membership of 225 students and counting, the inaugural year of the Spartan Real Estate Association (SREA) has proven to be one of exponential growth. Aiming to fill a void within the student club community, SREA was established in August 2024 with the goal of providing programs and benefits for students to “explore and ultimately secure meaningful professional careers and internships in the dynamic real estate industry.”
SREA members are exposed to unique career opportunities in the industry, such as real estate appraisal, commercial investment sales, real estate financial analysis, investment acquisitions and real estate law, just to name a few.
Deyvi Leon, Finance ’25 and president of SREA, highly encourages students to give the association a try.
“Real estate is such a massive industry, and most people assume real estate brokers are the only career option,” Leon said. “However, there are many paths, and I personally find real estate finance much more exciting compared to traditional finance.”
Membership is free and open to all majors. Students who join can benefit from the following:
- Industry panels and guest speakers
- Alumni mentorships
- Personal career guidance
- Internships and career placement
- Skill development courses
- Financial scholarships and grants
SREA hosted the Silicon Valley chapter of the Commercial Real Estate Women Network (CREW) on February 24, 2025, to share their experiences and wisdom. The CREW panel included Michelle Goudeaux of LBA Realty, Janine McCaffery of Stewart Title, Quan Che of Heritage Bank and Kirsten Grado of JLL.
Guest speakers from a variety of real estate backgrounds are coordinated by the association’s advisor, Scott Daugherty, Accounting ’79. Daugherty, a Lucas College of Business donor, advisory board member, and Fall 2025 adjunct professor of real estate principles, has had the unique vantage point of seeing members reimagine their career aspirations.
“My experience has been quite rewarding,” Daugherty reflected. “The most satisfying experience for me is when I observe a student realize that they have greater career opportunities than they had previously imagined. And then they get into action, pursuing a meaningful real estate career.”
For Daniel Taddese, Finance ’28 and vice president of SREA, being in the association has allowed him to develop leadership, teamwork and communication skills. He added that “it has also provided opportunities for coffee chats with mentors and networking events outside of the college, which have made my college experience more invaluable.”
“My favorite activity has been networking. Not only has it improved my communication skills, but I always leave with valuable new connections,” Taddese shared. His suggestion to students is to make sure to follow up after a networking opportunity.
New SREA member, Saahil Kakaria, ’27 Management Information Systems, began to look for associations or clubs on campus after learning more about the real estate industry. After doing some research and asking around, he found SREA on SJSU’s website. He joined in February and has already attended four speaker events.
“I joined SREA to learn from professionals in the field, build my network, and get opportunities to gain hands-on experience,” Sakaria said. “In my opinion, the insight you can gain from professionals who have been in the field for a long time is invaluable.”
He noted that learning from such a varied group of successful, experienced, and knowledgeable professionals “opens your eyes to the wide range of career paths within Real Estate.”
Leon, when asked what he hopes to take away from this experience upon graduation, said it’s all about leaving something behind.
“I have been passionate about real estate, but SJSU had no clubs or classes that allowed me to explore this passion further,” he reflected. “I had to take the initiative—cold emailing professionals and networking extensively—to even get my foot in the door. If this club had existed when I started at SJSU, it would have made it much easier to connect with people in the industry.”
Taddese’s advice to anyone considering joining SREA is to “attend the meetings to gain knowledge, but also to step out of your comfort zone and talk with professionals. They’re always willing to help and see you succeed, as you are the next generation!”
Dean Kannan, pictured with SREA’s officers and their advisor Scott Daugherty, at the club’s final meeting of the semester on April 28, 2025. At the meeting, some big news was announced. For the first time in nearly 50 years, the Lucas College and Graduate School of Business will offer a real estate certificate.
About Lucas College and Graduate School of Business
Lucas College and Graduate School of Business faculty, staff, students and alumni consistently make a significant impact in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Many graduates have gone on to excel in various industries, with a notable presence in Silicon Valley. These organizations recognize and value the exceptional education and skills our alumni bring to their roles, making San José State University a key contributor to the region’s thriving economy. With competitive tuition and outstanding career outcomes, our college is among the top institutions for return on investment (ROI), delivering unparalleled value for money in higher education. We offer MBA, PMBA, MSFA, MSAA and MSTM degrees at the graduate level and 14 different BSBA concentrations at the undergraduate level, the largest set of offerings among the CSUs. These include accounting, accounting information systems, business analytics, corporate accounting & finance, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, hospitality, tourism, & event management, human resources management, international business, management, management information systems, marketing, and operations & supply chain management.