$1.5 million donated to Craig School program

Endowment will provide for creation of center for real estate, urban development

By David Kassis
The Collegian

Thanks to a recent $1.5 million endowment, Fresno State will be able to establish a new real estate program within the Craig School of Business.

The gift, which comes courtesy of Arnold and Dianne Gazarian, will allow the university to create a center that supports the business school’s real estate and urban land economics option and major for students who are interested in residential and commercial real estate sales. In addition, it will allow for expanded research by graduate students and faculty members.

“This real estate center is going to be a great way for students to learn from professors, as well as professionals in the field,” said Caty Perez, director of development for the Craig School. “It will definitely make the business school stronger.”

The center, which will be named after the Gazarians, will allow students to learn the business aspect of real estate and apply their knowledge to various situations. Main areas of study include banking, lending, development, appraising, escrow, property management and construction.

“We hope that this gift will assist the university in making it a leader in educating real estate professionals, conducting real-world research and promoting high ethical standards,” Arnold Gazarian said in a press release. “We also hope that the center will bring together members of the real estate community to discuss issues of importance to the industry.”

Senior business management major Chris Estrada III is excited that his department is adding the real estate center. “It will enhance the integrity of the business school and give more options for students to excel,” Estrada said. “There are already so many options and so many ways to go within the major, this just adds to it.”

Junior marketing major Ernie Ott thinks the new Gazarian Real Estate Center will add to the prestige of the business department. “The Craig School is already nationally known and one of the best departments in the California State University system,” Ott said. “With real estate being such a huge part of our economy, I think it’s good to get more people involved at Fresno State.”

Ott and Estrada both said the quality of the faculty within the department will go a long way toward the success of the real estate center. “All of the professors are helpful,” Ott said. “They have great knowledge of a subject from their own experience in the business world.”

“The professors here are very good, and help students further their knowledge in business,” Estrada said.

Aside from the educational aspect, the Gazarian Real Estate Center will sponsor conferences, seminars and workshops in real estate and land use.

The addition of the real estate center should also produce student interns, as well as more potential future employees for the Valley.

“This is going to be a resource for the whole region,” Perez said. “It will serve as an outreach arm from Fresno State to the real estate community.”

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