Amanda Doughty, like many Weidner Property Management and Real Estate (WPMRE) students, was seeking a career and a leg-up in the workforce. Having taken a 10-year break from post-secondary education to work in the healthcare industry, she made her way back to academia to pursue a degree in Property Management and Real Estate.
"I had always had an interest in real estate, and the program provided me with a perfect opportunity to not only learn about something I was really interested in, but also to change careers", Doughty says.
After being in the program for a semester, Amanda recognized an opportunity to connect with industry professionals in the community. She and a couple of other students began the UAA Property Management and Real Estate Club, a group that works to provide education and activities that build connections between students and potential industry-employers in Alaska.
"Through the program and club, I've been able to cultivate many meaningful relationships that have helped me gain internships and strong connections to my community", Doughty says.
This summer, Amanda began an internship with an Anchorage-based commercial real estate company, Cange and Chambers.
"I really get to put what I've learned in the classroom to the test in my internship", Doughty says. "I've been able to assist the company with their management software system (YARDI), prepare proposals for management services, and learn the ins-and-outs of the buildings they manage and how they can best enhance value and investment performance."
Doughty has been a recipient of multiple monetary scholarships and travel awards offered by the Property Management and Real Estate Program. She has been able to travel all across the country to industry conferences in Denver, CO and Orlando, FL.
"I was able to attend the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) Leadership Conference last fall, where I got to meet with professionals from my region as well as the national Board of DIrectors of IREM. The summer before, I was able to attend the National Apartment Association's (NAA) Education Conference in Denver, where I was able to have lunch with Dean Weidner, founder and president of Weidner Apartment Homes. I have had some incredible experiences notworking with national leaders in the industry."
Amanda is on-track to graduate this December. She plans to work in commercial real estate management and possibly invest in some of her own residential properties fown the line.
What will your story be? Contact the Weidner Property Management and Real Estate Program advisor today at tjfields@uaa.alaska.edu to learn more about one of the College of Business and Public Policy's newest 4-year business degrees