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UNC Real Estate Diversity Initiative

Students reaching upThe UNC “REDI” Program embodies the stated goals of the Wood Center:

  • To develop and maintain an engaged community
  • To foster and support an experimental learning environment
  • To prepare community members for sustained career success

The REDI Intern Program promotes the following objectives:

  • To work with Commercial Real Estate partner companies in an industry-changing program to increase overall diverse applicant pool within Commercial Real Estate at the university level 
  • To prepare students to gain meaningful internship experience through pre-internship training for interviews, gaining industry knowledge, and quantitative skills preparation 
  • To help students gain real world work experience by working in a paid 8 or 10-week internship  
  • To participate in program feedback and share experiences with other students across UNC’s campus 

Our interns gain a sense of belonging and growth with support of the Wood Center and Industry engagement. Starting with our boot camp preparation classes, interns meet regularly during their internship to discuss areas of improvement and actionable activities to strengthen their communication skills, advance their technical skills and expand their recruitment relationships.

Are you interested in our REDI Program?

Follow this link for the application and contact Lynn Tocci.

Our 2022 UNC REDI interns: In their own words

(Select photo to view full profile.)

Olisa Aniekwensi

Olisa Aniekwensi

Olisa Aniekwensi

Hi, my name is Olisa Aniekwensi and I am a sophomore studying business administration and political science. What initially sparked my interest in commercial real estate was an internship I did with Project Destined. Through my involvement I was given the opportunity to conduct market research, create an investment thesis, and produce the financial analysis on a multifamily property. My membership in the real estate club led me to cross paths with Lynn Tocci who encouraged me to apply to the REDI program. I have an unwavering desire to learn and look forward to expanding my knowledge base to learning about industrial real estate, which is why I am extremely grateful and excited to be interning for Taurus Investment Holdings this summer on the industrials team. I look forward to continuing with the REDI program and could not be more grateful for this opportunity.

JT Cunningham

JT Cunningham

JT Cunningham

Hi! My name is JT Cunningham, and I am a sophomore from Raleigh, North Carolina. I am majoring in Business Administration. I enjoy playing basketball, weightlifting, creative writing, and learning about fashion and finance. I am extremely excited to be a part of the REDI program and look forward to developing my knowledge of commercial real estate. I am humbled and grateful to be interning for Kane Realty in Raleigh, NC this summer!

Andre Goldsmith

Andre Goldsmith

Andre Goldsmith

Hi! My name is Andre Goldsmith, a sophomore from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I am a student at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School pursuing a major in Business Administration with concentrations in Real Estate and Consulting, and also pursuing minors in Entrepreneurship and Advertising/Public Relations. Thank you to everyone involved in the REDI program for providing me with this amazing opportunity to explore and further develop skills within the Real Estate world. I am extremely grateful to be interning for all of the wonderful people at Johnson Development Associates in Spartanburg, South Carolina in the Summer of 2023!

Haley Hanks

Haley Hanks

Haley Hanks

Hello, my name is Haley Hanks, and I am a sophomore from Wilmington, North Carolina. I am majoring in Business Administration with an area of emphasis in real estate at the Kenan-Flagler Business School and minoring in Advertising and Public Relations at the Hussman School of Journalism and Media. The REDI Program has provided me with countless opportunities to further explore the field of commercial real estate while learning from the best in the business. I am beyond excited to be interning at Greystar this summer in Charleston, South Carolina as an analyst on their development team. During this experience, I look forward to expanding my finance skills, eating all the Southern food, and shopping on King Street!

Sam Henderson

Sam Henderson

Sam Henderson

Hi! My name is Sam Henderson, and I am a sophomore from Raleigh, NC. I am currently pursuing a double major in Economics and Management & Society. I am extremely grateful for the REDI Program which provided the opportunity for me to explore and develop within the commercial real estate industry. I am excited to be interning with Cousins Properties in Charlotte, NC in the summer of 2023!

Lillian Jester

Lillian Jester

Lillian Jester

Hello, my name is Lillian Jester and I am from Chapel Hill, NC. At UNC, I am currently studying Global Studies with concentrations in International Economics and Western European Studies, with a minor in PPE (Philosophy / Political Science / Economics) and intended Business minor. I am eager to explore commercial real estate this spring semester and summer through the REDI program. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to intern at Grubb Properties in Charlotte, NC this summer!

Bryce Jones

Bryce Jones

Bryce Jones

Hello, my name is Bryce Jones, and I am a sophomore Public Policy Major and Real Estate Minor. I am interested in affordable housing solutions and urban development in cities like my hometown of Philadelphia, PA. This summer I will be a Financial Analyst Intern at Harbert Management Coroporation in their Dallas office, and I am eager to get to work. I am grateful for the REDI program for providing me with an opportunity to connect my interests with relevant internship experience.

Rahul Konkimalla

Rahul Konkimalla

Rahul Konkimalla

Hello! My name is Rahul and I’m a sophomore from Newark, Delaware. I’m currently studying Business Administration and Computer Science here at UNC. I’m grateful for the opportunity that the REDI program has presented me with and am ecstatic to be able to intern for PGIM next summer in their Atlanta, GA office. When I’m not in my classes, I enjoy reading, playing sports, and going for long drives.

Claire Lewis

Claire Lewis

Claire Lewis

Hi! My name is Claire Lewis, and I am a sophomore from Columbia, South Carolina. I am majoring in Business Administration at the Kenan-Flagler Business School and minoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics. In my free time, I enjoy UNC intramural sports, working out, spending time with my friends, and when I have the possibility I love to travel. I look forward to continuing to explore the commercial real estate industry through the REDI program, and I am thrilled to be interning with Berkeley Capital Advisors in Charlotte, NC this summer.

Gracie Lupas

Gracie Lupas

Gracie Lupas

Hi, my name is Gracie Lupas, and I am a sophomore from Cashiers, NC hoping to major in business administration with an area of emphasis in real estate and a minor in public policy. I am very excited to grow my knowledge of commercial real estate through the REDI program and am so grateful to the Wood Center for this opportunity to pursue my interests. This summer, I am looking forward to interning with Asana Partners in Charlotte, NC on their investments team!

Kiley Oxendine

Kiley Oxendine

Kiley Oxendine

Hello! My name is Kiley Oxendine, and I am a sophomore from Fairmont, North Carolina. I am studying sociology with the hopes of pursuing a minor in business. I have always been interested in real estate and eager to learn more, and I am excited to get the opportunity to do so through the REDI program. I look forward to a great summer of new experiences and learning at Beacon Partners!

Yash Patel

Yash Patel 

Yash Patel 

Hello! My name is Yash Patel, and I am a sophomore from Morrisville, NC. I am a student at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School pursuing a major in Business Administration with a Real Estate emphasis and a double minor in Data Science and Information Science. I am grateful to the REDI program for providing me with many opportunities within the commercial real estate industry and I am excited to intern with The Dinerstein Companies in their Houston, Texas office for Summer 2023!

T'Nya Savage

T'Nya Savage

T'Nya Savage

Hi, I am T’nya Savage, a rising junior at UNC-Chapel Hill by way of Raleigh, North Carolina. I am currently majoring in Management and Society with a double minor in Real Estate and Composition, Rhetoric, and Digital Literacy (CRDL). Coming into UNC I had my heart set on pursuing medicine solely, but I have since found a love for all things property, management, analytics, etc. With that said, I am so excited and honored to have the opportunity to work with Flagship Healthcare Properties in Charlotte, North Carolina this summer as it combines both my pre-med background and my deep interest in the commercial real estate sector.

Olivia Schram

Olivia Schram

Olivia Schram

My name is Liv Schram and I am from Overland Park, Kansas. I am a Business Administration Major, minoring in Urban Studies and Planning. I spend my time outside of school running a permanent jewelry business in Chapel Hill. I am passionate about traveling the world, cooking with family and friends, and I enjoy playing the guitar. I will be spending the summer of 2023 on the Greystar Investment Team in Charleston, SC. I am so grateful for this opportunity, and thank you to Lynn Tocci and the Wood Center for their help!

Morgan Tsui

Morgan Tsui

Morgan Tsui

Hi, my name is Morgan Tsui, and I am from Cornelius, NC majoring in economics at UNC. I am so excited to dive deeper into commercial real estate thanks to Lynn Tocci and the REDI program. In my free time I love traveling and all things outdoors! This summer I am thrilled to be interning with Greystar in Charleston, SC. 

Mary Victoria Young

Mary Victoria Young

Mary Victoria Young

My name is Mary Victoria. I am a sophomore from Asheville, North Carolina double majoring in Management and Society and History and minoring in Entrepreneurship through the Shuford Program. My interest in real estate began by working with my mom’s commercial investments and was fostered by an internship in residential real estate last summer. Outside of real estate, I like playing and teaching tennis, reading, and spending time with friends outdoors.

I am very excited to be interning with Eller Capital during the summer of 2023. A huge thanks to the REDI Program and the amazing Ms. Lynn!