Celebrating 20 years of the Master of Science in Real Estate Program at the University of San Diego Knauss School of Business
On April 24, 2025, the University of San Diego’s Knauss School of Business and the Burnham-Moores Center for Real Estate, commemorated the 20th Anniversary of the Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE) program. The event, held in the distinguished courtyard of the Knauss Center for Business Education, paid tribute to the program’s remarkable growth—from its early days in modest lower-campus classrooms to its current residence in a cutting-edge academic facility—while reaffirming its standing as one of the nation’s leading graduate real estate programs.
Welcome back to Campus
Alumni were warmly welcomed by the real estate faculty, staff of the Burnham-Moores Center, and current USD students. For many, it was their first opportunity to visit the new Knauss Center for Business Education, where they toured the state-of-the-art facility and the BMC’s new offices. Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and refreshments while reconnecting with longtime peers and building new connections within the real estate alumni community.
More than 160 alumni of the University of San Diego’s program gathered for the special celebration, with attendees traveling from across the country, including San Francisco, Arizona, Las Vegas, Utah and Louisiana. The event also welcomed international alumni, including Mareike Grebener ’19 (MSRE), who traveled from Munich, Germany, and Andrea Leo ’16 (MSRE), from Milan, Italy. Joe Bird '16 (MSRE)won the endurance award, driving 11 hours from Utah.
In a particularly meaningful show of support, 14 (out of 23) members of the program’s initial 2004 cohort were in attendance—a powerful testament to the enduring bonds formed over the past two decades. The "Covid class" of 2020 showed up strong—with two currently in Germany, nine out of the 11 U.S.-based members of the cohort attended.
"After nearly 21 years with the program and having had the privilege of teaching every single MSRE graduate, this event was especially meaningful to me," says Charles Tu, PhD, the Steven L. Black Endowed Chair in Real Estate. "Seeing this community continue to thrive and stay connected reminds me why the MSRE program has been such an important part of my academic career."
“It’s inspiring to see how deeply connected and committed our alumni are to each other and to the future of the program,” says Joe Bertocchni ’01, senior manager of student, industry and alumni development. “Mary Ann Yaghdjian ’07 (MSRE) and David Michan ’05 (MSRE) did an exceptional job bringing this event to life—I was honored to be a part of it.”
Testimonials
Alumni swapped stories of past collaborations, changes in personal lives, and shared new ideas for future collaborations.
David Michan ’05 (MSRE), president of Strata Equity Group, shared a few words at the event, encouraging giving back to the University that provided so much to all in attendance. Others shared in more detail in conversations how becoming an MSRE graduate impacted their career for the better.
“I have had MSRE graduates as clients, coworkers and partners in all stages of real estate process,” says Michael Manneh ’19 (MSRE) who is an estimator at Webcor.
David Dieguez ’21 (MSRE), project director at B&G Consultants shared “because of the positive impacts USD and the BMC gave me, I find ways to give back—being here [at the event] only continues the desire to express the gratitude.”
“Twenty years ago, I graduated with a Master of Science in Real Estate, in the very first class of the [then newly created] MSRE program,” says Scott Darnell ’03, ’05 (MSRE), principal at Darnell Capital Management. “As a young, aspiring professional, this degree laid the critical foundation for a successful career. My MSRE schooling and degree equipped me with a small amount of initial expertise and preliminary credibility I needed to jump-into and thrive in this hyper-dynamic industry. The opportunities that I was able to connect with later were made possible by this early start I had through the MSRE program. I have remained close with many of my classmates and continue to give back to USD and the program that gave me my first chance to succeed.”
The 20th Anniversary Celebration of the MSRE program highlighted the enduring strength of the USD alumni network—united by shared experiences, professional achievement and a deep commitment to service. The evening served as both a tribute to the program’s legacy and a reaffirmation of the Burnham-Moores Center’s mission to cultivate ethical and visionary leaders in real estate for generations to come. Special thanks go to the event sponsors and to Real Estate Alumni Association liaison Joe Bertocchini ’01, whose dedication was instrumental in bringing the celebration to life.
View a sldieshow of the event