Diverse, passionate, and driven
Cornell Baker Program in Real Estate students are as diverse as the specialties they choose to pursue. The ability to bring leadership to the industry and make a unique contribution to the community at Cornell are factors that are often emphasized over direct experience, GPAs, and GMAT scores. Characteristics that the selection committee looks for include:
- A passion for real estate and its related fields
- Creativity and an intellectual spark
- The ability to positively contribute to diverse teams
- Leadership in an academic, work, or community setting
- Direct or indirect real estate experience or exposure
Baker Program students demonstrate the variety of interests, backgrounds, and geographies that constitute a diverse and compelling cohort for your studies.
Jason Abel
Hometown: Dresher, Pennsylvania
Education: University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Business, bachelor of business administration in accounting and information systems
Professional experience: Audit associate for KPMG in their financial services sector, financial analyst for Gibraltar Capital and Asset Management, LLC
Future Career Focus: Career in real estate private equity management
X-Factor: Monthly volunteer at Jewish Relief Agency packing and delivering food and supplies
Jason Henderson
Hometown: Ithaca, New York
Education: State University of New York at Geneseo, bachelor of arts in economics
Experience: Capital improvement projects for Travis Hyde Properties; renovation and construction project manager
Future Career Focus: Infill development projects
X-Factor: Created website to track and update others on real estate market and property development in the Ithaca area
Jessica Kane
Hometown: Davie, Florida
Education: University of St. Gallen, Switzerland: School of Business, Economics, Law and Social Sciences, master of strategies in international management; University of Oklahoma: Price College of Business, bachelor of business administration
Experience: Project coordinator, SIEMENS, Germany; business development ambassador, Muse, Shanghai; project manager, Cardiff Giant hospitality group, Los Angeles
Future Career Focus: Development and finance
X-Factor: Speaks Chinese and German
Katherine Scafuri
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Education: Wellesley College, double major in architecture and French cultural studies
Experience: Project coordinator, Hill Harder Development; design assistant, Kristine Mullaney Design; intern, Cambridge Historical Commission
Future Career Focus: Development
X-Factor: Fluent in French
Jason Spencer
Hometown: Deckerville, Michigan
Education: University of Michigan, master of engineering in structural engineering, bachelor of science in civil engineering
Experience: Freelance structural engineer; project manager on Hyatt Hotels apartment complexes, and the American embassy in London
Future Career Focus: Career in development that successfully balances economic constraints, architectural aesthetics, and sustainable design principles
X-Factor: Assessed several multi-story buildings for structural damage following a major earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand