Christopher J. Mayer, Paul Milstein Professor of Real Estate, has been appointed co-director of the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate as of July 1. He assumes the role most recently held by Professor Lynne B. Sagalyn. Professor Mayer was previously director of the Milstein Center from 2003–08.

Since rejoining the School’s faculty in 2003 (he was previously an associate professor from 1996–99), Mayer has also served as senior vice dean of Columbia Business School, research director of the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate, and co-director of the Richard Paul Richman Center for Business, Law, and Public Policy. He previously held positions at the Wharton School, the University of Michigan, Harvard Business School, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Professor Mayer earned a BA in math and economics from the University of Rochester with highest honors and a PhD in economics from MIT in 1993. 

His research explores a variety of topics in real estate and financial markets, including housing cycles, mortgage markets, debt securitization, and commercial real estate valuation. Mayer is also co-founder and leads Longbridge Financial, an innovative startup company focused on developing and delivering reverse mortgage products to senior homeowners in a responsible manner. He serves as a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and a member of the Academic Advisory Board for Standard and Poor's and the Academic Research Council at the Urban Institute. Mayer has received funding from the National Science Foundation and Pew Charitable Trusts. 

Mayer will lead the MBA Real Estate program, working with Kristin Svenningsen, administrative director of the Paul Milstein Center, to oversee events, programming, research initiatives, curriculum, and alumni engagement. “I am incredibly excited to return as co-director of the Milstein Center and to work with our alumni, industry partners, and talented faculty to continue to provide a world-class business and real estate education and to pursue research excellence. While Lynne leaves some tough shoes to fill, we are excited to move ahead to address new challenges.”

Beyond the classroom, the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate produces a full calendar of events and programming that complements the formal curriculum. Senior-level practitioners — including many distinguished alumni — come to campus as guest lecturers, panelists, and mentors, providing the Columbia Business School community with exceptional opportunities to gain in-depth insight into the real estate industry. 

The 2016-17 academic year is already off to a busy, yet exciting start, and the Paul Milstein Center for Real Estate is thrilled to have Professor Mayer’s leadership.  “I very much look forward to welcoming the incoming Class of 2018 at the Real Estate Open House in September.”