Published on September 5, 2023 by Morgan Black  
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Fairway RealEstateLab Opening
Samford University’s Brock School of Business, in partnership with Fairway Investments, opened the Fairway Commercial Real Estate Lab on Sept. 5, 2023. The lab, paired with new curriculum and additional experiential opportunities, is a major component of a multi-pronged initiative to prepare Samford students for careers in the dynamic real estate industry.
 
Equipped with leading data analytics software used in the industry, the Fairway Commercial Real Estate Lab provides a dedicated workspace for students to collaborate with each other and with industry professionals for case analysis and applied research projects. In addition to the physical space, Brock School of Business’ new real estate concentration can be added as a complement to any business major. The curriculum incorporates courses that provide a holistic overview of the industry, including real estate law, professional selling, and real estate finance and investment.
 
“This hands-on lab will help set our students apart as they seek commercial or residential real estate internships and full-time employment in Birmingham and beyond,” said Chad Carson, dean of Samford’s Brock School of Business. “We are very grateful to Fairway for investing in this important initiative.”
 
Future plans for the initiative in Brock School of Business include the endowment of the Lucille Ryals Thompson Professorship and the establishment of a real estate professional advisory board.
 
Several members of Fairway Investments’ leadership team, including Brock School of Business alumnus and Fairway chief financial officer Curt Stokes, and president and chief executive officer Mike Thompson, attended the ribbon cutting event. Thompson expressed confidence in the educational purpose of the new facility as well as his assurance in the partnership’s investment in Samford students. He said, “The Thompson Family and Fairway Investments are pleased to partner with Brock School of Business to enhance their comprehensive teaching of real estate. Our joint vision of the Fairway Commercial Real Estate Lab combined with the new Lucille Ryals Thompson Professorship will bring meaningful assistance to Samford’s outstanding students wanting more knowledge in the exciting field of study.”
 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.