H.G. Fenton Company Fund Grants $100,000 to SDSU Real Estate Program

Donation Brings Total Recent Contributions to $2,000,000

Contact: Randy Carmical, Director of Communications
(619) 594-0206 Randy.Carmical@sdsu.edu

SAN DIEGO, Thursday, January 19, 2006 – San Diego State University’s (SDSU) College of Business Administration announced today that its Real Estate Program is the recipient of a $100,000 grant from the San Diego Foundation’s H.G. Fenton Company Fund. H.G. Fenton is a real estate acquisition and development firm. The grant is one of many contributions the college has received since November 2004, bringing total gifts to more than $2 million.

“We are truly pleased to have received this grant recommended from one of San Diego’s premier real estate development companies,” said Gail Naughton, dean of the university’s College of Business Administration. “We are ecstatic this grant from H.G. Fenton’s fund puts us over the $2 million mark. These gifts are vital to the growth of our Real Estate Program and enable us to provide our students with a first-class education.”

For more than 40 years, SDSU has been educating students in a program that includes Southern California’s leading comprehensive undergraduate real estate degree. The vision is to create a “ready-day-one” program for students who aspire to become leaders within the industry. This includes: 1) a restructured curriculum to prepare students for today’s and tomorrow’s employment opportunities; and 2) an expanded research component that analyzes emerging trends and provides thoughtful leadership on real estate matters of community importance.

Mike Neal, president of H.G. Fenton Company, says he considers SDSU to be a major and positive influence in the direction of San Diego through its exceptional educational focus on the business and community leaders of tomorrow.  

“H.G. Fenton Company believes that as a leader in the San Diego real estate industry it has a responsibility to create business and residential communities thoughtfully and with a focus on preserving San Diego’s quality of life for future generations,” said Neal, a graduate of SDSU’s College of Business.  “To ensure that our industry has the knowledge, talent and resources to accomplish these goals, H.G. Fenton Company is helping to prepare the future leaders of San Diego County through its investment in educational programs that build employment-related skills as well as critical thinking and leadership abilities.  Under the direction of dean Gail Naughton, the SDSU Real Estate Program will play a key role in the economic future of our region through its education of our community’s future leadership.  We encourage other companies to join us in supporting SDSU’s commitment to educational excellence.”

Several corporate partners have made substantial contributions recently to the SDSU Real Estate Program bringing recent total gifts to $2 million. Contributors include The Corky McMillin Companies, Grubb & Ellis/BRE Commercial, the Warwick family, Barratt American, Inc., Stephen and Michele Coslik and Cornerstone Communities.

SDSU also recently announced the appointment of Dr. Peter Chinloy as the endowed chair of the Real Estate Program. Chinloy, who begins at SDSU in fall 2006, is considered a preeminent scholar in the fields of real estate finance and development and is currently the Chair of the Finance and Real Estate Department at American University’s Kogod School of Business in Washington, D.C., as well as the Realtor Chair Professor and Homer Hoyt Faculty Fellow.  Chinloy has published a number of books in both management and real estate, including The Cost of Doing Business and Labor Productivity and Real Estate Investment and Financial Strategy. He has also published over 50 refereed articles in publications such as Real Estate Economics, Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, and American Economic Review, and is a member of the Editorial Board for Real Estate Economics, Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, and Journal of Real Estate Literature.  

Chinloy received his undergraduate degree in accounting and economics from McGill University and his master’s and doctoral degrees from Harvard University. His knowledge and expertise in the fields of mortgage finance, commercial real estate, and equity structuring in real estate will greatly enhance SDSU’s Real Estate Program.

About the H.G. Fenton Company

Founded in San Diego in 1906, H.G. Fenton Company is proudly celebrating its 100th anniversary.  The company is dedicated to providing quality places for San Diegans to work and live through the acquisition or development of a variety of industrial and multifamily properties throughout San Diego County.  Currently, the company owns and manages over 3 million square feet of industrial space and 11 residential communities with more than 2,130 apartment homes. 

About the SDSU College of Business Administration

With over 5,500 students, the SDSU College of Business is one of the largest business schools in the U.S. Its programs in undergraduate international business and graduate entrepreneurship are ranked among the top programs in the country by U.S. News and World Report. This year, the college is celebrating “50 Years of Educating San Diego’s Business Leaders.”

About San Diego State University

San Diego State University is the oldest and largest higher education institution in the San Diego region.  Since it was founded in 1897, the university has grown to offer bachelor’s degrees in 81 areas, master’s degrees in 72 areas and doctorates in 16 areas.  SDSU’s more than 33,000 students participate in academic curriculum distinguished by direct contact with faculty and an increasing international emphasis that prepares them for a global future.  For more information, visit www.sdsu.edu.