Before launching his own firm, Anderson was president of CNL Real Estate Advisors in Orlando, overseeing such areas as research, origination, acquisition, finance and management. The University of Alabama finance graduate also served previously as Ryder Eminent Scholar Chair and professor of real estate/finance at Florida International University, as well as chief economist and director of research for Marcus & Millichap.

UCF's real estate chair is supported by a $5-million endowment from state and local gifts. The endowment also supports a real estate scholarship program at the college, which has nearly 200 students either majoring or minoring in the undergraduate program.

The Central Florida chapter of NAIOP has committed $600,000 toward a second real estate faculty position at UCF honoring Jim Heistand, majority owner of Orlando-based Eola Capital. Additional donations have been made by local commercial real estate firms including Taurus Southern Investments, CB Richard Ellis, Duke Construction and Highwoods Properties.

"At this point, we need more folks to follow their lead," says Terry Delahunty, president of NAIOP Central Florida and a partner in Foley & Lardner's Orlando law office. "We are currently seeking additional investment in the chair."