CHICAGO— James S. Lee , Chicago real estate investment advisor, has been named the 2016 international chair of The Counselors of Real Estate^®, the Chicago-based association of top-level real estate advisors. He will also participate today in the panel session “Student Housing: A Niche with Growth Potential” at the MIPIM real estate conference in Cannes, France, and address the growing interest among investors in luxury student housing. Lee, co-founder and senior principal of Kensington Realty Advisors , oversees the firm's acquisition, development and financing activities. Before founding KRA, he worked with the Prudential Realty Group . Lee's career has included acquisition, asset management, development, disposition and financing in a wide range of property sectors. He received his B.A. degree in architecture and an MBA in finance from the University of Minnesota . In addition to his work with The Counselors, he is active in other organizations, including the Urban Land Institute , Pension Real Estate Association and the Mortgage Bankers Association . The Counselors of Real Estate was f ounded in 1953 and serves 1,100 members worldwide, all who hold the "CRE" credential. Membership in the organization is awarded by invitation only through peer, employer and client review.