Master of Science in Real Estate Program at UF receives $1 million from Nathan S. Collier

March 30, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The graduate real estate program at the Warrington College of Business Administration at the University of Florida is looking to enhance its national prominence with help from a Gainesville-based alumnus.

Nathan S. Collier, founder and owner of the Collier Companies, which includes Paradigm Properties Management Team Inc., pledged $1 million to help endow the Nathan S. Collier Master of Science in Real Estate Program (MSRE) at the college.

“Over 1,000 graduate students are currently enrolled in our eight different specialized masters programs,” said John Kraft, dean of the Warrington College of Business Administration. “This gift distinguishes the MSRE and focuses attention on program quality and student accomplishments.”

The gift will benefit the one-year specialized master’s degree program at UF by providing a stable source of funding to support faculty, off-campus field trips and project tours, grants for the development of case studies and provide promotional support to focus attention on program quality and student accomplishments. The gift will also establish the Nathan S. Collier MSRE Scholarship.

“This gift will help bring a national focus to the MSRE program and will help us recruit and enroll the highest quality students from around the world,” said David Ling, MSRE program director.

Coming from a line of successful entrepreneurs, including his great uncle Peter Collier, founder of Collier’s Weekly magazine, Collier has devoted his business life to real estate investment, management, renovation and development.

Collier, who received three degrees from UF and is a member of the board of directors for both the UF Foundation and the UF Center for Real Estate Studies, said he has been a long term supporter of the UF real estate program and is impressed with the quality and dedication of UF students.

“My hope is that this gift will help take the real estate program to another level and cement UF business programs’ place as the best in the nation,” said Collier.

The gift is eligible to receive state matching funds from the State of Florida Trust Fund for
Major Gifts, bringing the potential total gift amount to $1.75 million.

“Endowing this program will take it to the next level and will help us build its national visibility and reputation,” said Ling.