DALLAS—As a real estate business, student housing has been getting much attention over the past few years thanks the growing echo boomer population and subsequent rising college enrollment. Yet the industry was doing quite well before it received its fame, thanks to a handful of early pioneers.

The April 2013 issue of Real Estate Forum profiled 24 of these leaders, chosen for their reputations and accomplishments in the business. Some of them have been at the helm of the country's first companies dedicated to student residences; others have recently kicked off their own firms after putting in their dues at others. Many have worked together and all have instantly recognizable names to those in the know.

It is for these reasons, among others, that these Pioneers will also be honored at the upcoming RealShare Student Housing 2013 conference, to be held on May 13 at the Four Seasons Resort and Spa here. To see some of these leaders in action, click here to register for the event. To see who got chosen, keep reading—and stay on the lookout for the next issue of Student Housing Leader, which wil feature the other half of the list.