McDonough Business School Appointed New Real Estate Head
Kelly Nagel stepped into the leadership role at the Steers Center for Global Assets this past summer.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Commercial
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In Summer 2026, the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University appointed Kelly Nagel as the new head of real estate. The appointment aims to address growing student demand for commercial real estate education.
Why it matters
The center is shifting its focus to become a broader real assets platform that encompasses infrastructure and energy. This strategic move responds to a need for deeper academic training in real estate and specialized asset management.
Kelly Nagel brings three years of experience as an adjunct professor to her new leadership role. The center plans to launch its new real estate minor in Spring 2027.
The players
Kelly Nagel
She is the newly appointed head of real estate at the Steers Center for Global Assets and a former adjunct professor at the business school.
McDonough School of Business
This is the business school at Georgetown University in Washington that houses the Steers Center.
Steers Center for Global Assets
This specialized academic center provides real estate and global asset management programs for students.
Shivansh Bansal
He is a student who previously took a course taught by Kelly Nagel.
The details
Nagel will lead the evaluation of both undergraduate and graduate curricula while defining content for a new real estate minor. Her work focuses on identifying faculty and determining where the center should expand or contract its existing offerings.
Timeline
Fall 2025: Student Shivansh Bansal attended a class taught by Kelly Nagel.
Summer 2026: Kelly Nagel officially assumed the position of head of real estate.
September 16, 2026: The McDonough School of Business announced the appointment.
Spring 2027: The new real estate minor is scheduled to launch.
Culture Shift
The transition to a real assets platform reflects a broader trend of universities expanding business curricula to include infrastructure and energy sectors. This move follows the Steers Center for Global Assets' strategy to align academic programs with shifting global industry demands.
Students at Georgetown University will see a significant expansion in their course options regarding infrastructure and energy assets. These curriculum changes aim to better prepare graduates for specialized roles in the commercial real estate market.
The takeaway
Academic programs are increasingly adapting to incorporate specialized asset management training as interest in infrastructure grows. Students should monitor upcoming course catalogs for new opportunities to specialize in real assets before the 2027 minor rollout.
What happens next
The new real estate minor is scheduled to launch in Spring 2027, at which point further details regarding curriculum requirements will be finalized.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in the local sector at Commercial.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Hoya.
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