Charles Wurtzebach has been named as the new chair of the Department of Real Estate and as the Douglas and Cynthia Crocker Endowed Director of the Real Estate Center at DePaul University, according to a news release on the school’s website. Wurtzebach kicked off his three-year dual appointment in July, succeeding Susanne Cannon, the founder of the department and center, who retired earlier this year.
Wurtzebach first joined DePaul’s faculty as the George L. Ruff Professor in 2009 — a position that brought Wurtzebach back to his roots. He grew up in the Roseland neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side and earned his bachelor’s degree in finance from DePaul, followed by an MBA in finance from Northern Illinois University and then the PhD from U of I.
“I always remained close to DePaul,” Wurtzebach said. As director of the Real Estate Center, he will help DePaul University business students find their best opportunities in real estate.
The Kellstadt Graduate School of Business offers an MBA concentration in Real Estate Finance and Investment. The multidisciplinary program prepares prospective MBAs for career paths that include senior real estate analyst, acquisitions officer, asset and portfolio manager, real estate developer, real estate finance manager and urban planning manager.
“My plan is to continue to grow and develop the real estate undergraduate, MBA and MS enrollments, as well as the research initiatives, which make DePaul the most comprehensive real estate program in the area,” Wurtzebach said.