ITHACA, N.Y. -- David L. Funk has been appointed as the next director of the Program in Real Estate at Cornell University. He will assume his new duties Aug. 1. Funk was previously the director of the MBA Program at the Manderson Graduate School of Business at the University of Alabama.

The mission of the Program in Real Estate is to focus knowledge of, and interest in, domestic and international real estate issues at Cornell through research, publications and outreach. It administers the Master of Professional Studies in Real Estate program, a two-year interdisciplinary graduate degree program that prepares students for work in the real estate industry, primarily in the areas of development, finance, consulting and investment. Aiding the program is the Cornell Real Estate Council, a network of more than 1,100 Cornell alumni who are involved in the real estate industry. 

Funk has 12 years of experience in graduate program administration and real estate teaching and a background in residential real estate development. While he was MBA director at Manderson, the program enjoyed significant national recognition and experienced a steady rise in the U.S. News and World Report overall ranking from 2001 to 2005. 

At Cornell he will have responsibility for developing associations with professionals in the real estate industry, marketing the program, fund raising and furthering relationships with faculty throughout the university. In addition, he will teach real estate courses as a member of Cornell's Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP). Funk succeeds C. Bradley Olson, the director for the program for the past six years, who will remain at Cornell as a senior lecturer in real estate at CRP.

"We are indeed fortunate to be acquiring the services and leadership of a person with such broad and appropriate experience," said Olson. "I am excited by David's appointment and know that he will add great energy, skill and dedication to Cornell's Program in Real Estate. I look forward to working closely with him as he assumes his new duties." 

Funk received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with an interdisciplinary degree in real estate and university administration. His M.A. and B.A. are from Ohio University. He has conducted research and written numerous articles and papers related to real estate and education.