Class of 2027 drawn to Kenan-Flagler for practical learning, vibrant real estate network

Each year, incoming full-time MBA students who demonstrate a strong interest in commercial real estate are considered for a variety of fellowships generously funded by our alumni and industry partners. These prestigious awards recognize high-achieving individuals who exhibit exceptional leadership potential and academic excellence, helping to ease the financial commitment of pursuing an MBA. This year, eleven members of the Class of 2027 were selected to receive fellowships designated for students planning to concentrate in real estate. We invite you to learn more about these outstanding recipients and their aspirations in the field.

Siddardha Chalamala – The Faison MBA Fellowship

Siddardha Chalamala began his career as an architect, earning degrees from NIT Calicut in India and SCI-Arc in Los Angeles before working in the architecture and construction industry. As a Senior Digital Design Consultant at Trimble Consulting, he helped bring complex designs to life through advanced technology. He’s now moving from architecture to community-building by pursuing an MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler with a concentration in Real Estate. Drawn by the Wood Center, the Real Estate Club, and UNC’s powerful alumni network, Siddardha is excited to merge his design expertise with investment and development strategy. Outside of business, he’s a private pilot, surfer, and potter.

Carson Fletcher – The F. Trammell Crow MBA Fellowship for Leadership in Real Estate

Carson Fletcher studied Finance at Walla Walla University and began his career in financial advising before moving into commercial real estate brokerage as a financial analyst. He chose UNC Kenan-Flagler’s Real Estate MBA program to merge his skills in analytics and investment strategy with his passion for strengthening communities. Drawn to the Wood Center’s reputation and hands-on opportunities, Carson looks forward to learning from classmates and alumni while preparing for a career shaping meaningful spaces. Outside the classroom, he enjoys traveling with his wife, playing soccer or basketball, and following his favorite team, the Seattle Sounders.

Ted Lathrop – The Randee and Dave Hartzell Excellence in Real Estate Fellowship

Ted Lathrop earned his B.S. in Business Administration, with a major in Finance and a minor in Data Analytics, from the University of South Carolina’s Darla Moore School of Business. Prior to enrolling at UNC Kenan-Flagler, he gained experience in senior care real estate debt and public finance as a Public Finance Consulting Associate at Truist Bank. These experiences deepened his interest in real estate development and operations and inspired his long-term goal of creating vibrant, meaningful places for people to gather. A North Carolina native and second-generation Tar Heel, Ted is pursuing his MBA with a concentration in Real Estate and hopes to gaining hands-on experience through the student real estate fund and connecting with the UNC alumni network.

Katherine McCann – The Dearborn Family MBA Fellowship in Real Estate

Katherine McCann is pursuing her MBA with a Real Estate concentration, dreaming of transforming office buildings and creating standout amenity spaces in New York City. She earned her Business Administration degree from Elon University, majoring in Marketing and minoring in Finance, and previously worked as a Project Manager at Cushman & Wakefield, overseeing construction and design projects for clients. Katherine looks forward to building connections with classmates and alumni while learning from Kenan-Flagler’s expert faculty. Outside the classroom, she enjoys boating and even holds her boater’s license.

Calum McGuckin – The David and Ann Flanagan Real Estate Fellowship

Calum McGuckin is an MBA candidate at UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School. Prior to Kenan-Flagler, Calum spent ~7 years at Bank of America | Merrill Lynch, where he served as an Assistant Vice President on its Private Equity & Venture Capital Services Group. Through this exposure, Calum developed an appreciation for the high-risk, high-reward investment framework offered by VC, but found his interests aligned more closely with real estate than technology — ultimately leading him to pursue a career in development. With real-world real estate at its core, the unparalleled curriculum, culture, and network fostered by the Wood Center made Kenan-Flagler the clear first-step toward a career pivot into real estate development. At Kenan-Flagler, Calum is focused on building a strong foundation in real estate development as a platform for long-term growth in the field.  Calum graduated with distinction from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2017, with a B.A. in Journalism. In his free time, Calum enjoys playing golf, cheering on the Tar Heels, and spending time with his fiancé.

Aidan Powers – The Marc and Melissa Bromley Fellowship in Real Estate

Aidan Powers is pursuing his MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler with a concentration in Real Estate. He said he was drawn by the strength of the Wood Center and the depth of the alumni network. He earned his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from Clemson University’s Honors College and went on to work as a Project Engineer at Clark Construction. His experience delivering large-scale projects sparked a passion for real estate development and a desire to make a broader impact on communities. At Kenan-Flagler, Aidan looks forward to connecting with classmates, gaining hands-on experience through the MBA Real Estate Club and the Wood Center, and preparing for a career in development.

Camila Rodriguez – The Donna and Kirk Preiss Family Scholarship-Fellowship in Real Estate

Camila Rodriguez is a dual-degree student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment in the Master of Environmental Management program and UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School MBA program concentrating in sustainable real estate and green development. She earned her B.A. in Sustainable Development from Columbia University and has worked in environmental management, including geospatial analysis, fire risk mapping, soil research, and sustainable housing evaluation. Passionate about environmentally responsible development, Camila aims to advance healthier building practices through LEED-certified design and material transparency. She says she brings a data-driven perspective to real estate projects and looks forward to helping developers and investors integrate sustainable practices into residential, commercial, and hospitality developments. Fun fact: she went to bartending school after Columbia and has a secret key lime pie martini recipe.

Jared Rogos – The Patrick and Cathleen Trask MBA Fellowship

Jared Rogos earned his undergraduate degree in Finance from the University of Pittsburgh and spent five years as a management consultant at EY, focusing on financial services and logistics before leaving as a Senior Consultant. He discovered his passion for real estate after acquiring a small investment property, which led him to explore commercial development. Now pursuing his MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler with a concentration in Real Estate, Jared is excited to grow with his cohort and evolve from a “real estate student” into a “real estate developer.” Outside of the classroom, he enjoys historical fiction, golf, hiking, and cheering on his favorite college teams—GO HEELS!

Mihir Sharma – The Steven M. Cumbie MBA Fellowship for Real Estate Students

Mihir Sharma earned his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Connecticut and worked as a civil engineer at a national land development consulting firm. Passionate about the built environment and its potential to create transformative change, he is now pursuing his MBA at UNC Kenan-Flagler with a concentration in Real Estate. Mihir looks forward to participating in real estate case competitions, learning from his peers, and gaining hands-on experience through industry treks, while benefiting from the guidance of Professors Jim Spaeth and Dave Hartzell.

Louisa Sperrazza – The Leonard W. Wood Center for Real Estate Studies Fellowship

Louisa Sperrazza earned her BSBA from UNC Chapel Hill and began her career as a project analyst at Parexel before earning her North Carolina broker’s license and joining Compass as a residential real estate agent. She’s passionate about real estate’s power to shape communities and build connections and is now pursuing her MBA at Kenan-Flagler with a concentration in Real Estate—ready to get hands-on and make an impact. When she’s not exploring the Triangle or studying global markets, Louisa runs her lifestyle Instagram and hangs out with her beagle-dachshund rescue, Pretzel.

Gavin West – The Horey Family MBA Fellowship

Gavin West comes to UNC Kenan-Flagler with a Master of Architecture from Tulane University and experience as a Project Architect designing multi-family housing. He’s excited to shift from the drawing board to the development side by pursuing his MBA with a concentration in Real Estate, where he can pair his design background with new business skills to make a lasting community impact. Gavin is especially looking forward to learning the ins and outs of real estate development and connecting with his classmates. Fun fact: you might spot him in the background of the first Hunger Games movie, where he appeared as an extra.