Inside the World of Commercial Real Estate
For Archie W. Dunham College of Business (DCOB) students looking to move beyond theory, the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Forum offers something rare: an insider’s view of a fast-moving industry and direct access to the professionals shaping it.
The innovative forum was founded by Stewart Morris, Jr., president of Stewart Security Capital, a family-owned company that invests across multiple commercial real estate sectors. Morris said the idea grew from the extensive research required to make informed investment decisions.
“Markets evolve,” Morris said. “We invested valuable time measuring and trying to understand the current CRE market in order to make investment decisions and decided it would be good to share that due diligence and research exercise.”
The 2025 forum was sponsored by Stewart Security Capital, Texas Traditions Bank and U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors. Now in its fourth year, the event brings investors, developers, lenders and students together for a candid discussion of current market conditions, economic trends and where opportunity may lie next.
Moderated by Stewart Morris III, Vice President of Finance & Investments at Stewart Security Capital and a member of HCU’s Dunham College of Business Advisory Board, the panel included leaders from Hines, LSCRE, McCord Development, Pender Capital and Fidelis.
HCU provided the ideal setting. By hosting the event in Independence Hall in the Morris Family Center for Law & Liberty, the forum intentionally placed students in the center of professional dialogue, bridging the gap between classroom learning and real-world practice.
Where Learning Meets Industry
Morris Jr. saw the forum as an opportunity to expose students to expert perspectives rarely found in textbooks.
“Bringing together the CRE community on campus opened the door to exposing students and the CRE community to experts sharing their views of the current state of the market and their vision for the next year,” he said.
As attendance has grown, so has the scope of the forum. Panels now represent a broad range of CRE sectors and include economic outlook discussions that underscore how closely investment performance is tied to the broader economy.
The partnership of the Commercial Real Estate forum with the Morris family has been an incredible educational entrée for our students to attain job opportunities that they didn’t know were available to them.
Mike Rome
Dean of the Archie W. Dunham College of Business
“We have broadened the panel of experts to cover more of the CRE sectors and added economic outlook because the economy very much affects investment performance,” shared Morris III.
The guiding principles of informed and engaged speakers, meaningful networking at the start and close of the event and intentional exposure all work in tandem to provide an environment that introduces students to commercial real estate and the CRE community to HCU.
A Front-Row Seat for Students
For students, the value is immediate. They hear how professionals analyze risk, identify opportunity and navigate uncertainty, while also making personal connections with industry leaders.
At the most recent forum, student participation reached a new level.
“There were more students there, and they asked questions,” Morris Jr. said. “They actually asked the first question.”
That engagement reflects the forum’s growing role as a gateway into the industry. Commercial real estate firms are actively seeking fresh perspectives, and the forum creates a space for those conversations to begin.
“HCU business school students have an opportunity to learn about current market conditions and meet active players,” Morris III reiterated. “And the industry needs fresh, active young minds.”
Looking Ahead
While professional relationships continue to grow from the forum, its most lasting impact may be on the students themselves, noted Mike Rome, Dean of DCOB.
“The partnership of the Commercial Real Estate Forum with the Morris family has been an incredible educational entrée for our students to attain job opportunities that they didn’t know were available to them,” said Rome.
“The Forum displays many areas of the real estate world that exist and the developmental skills needed to make CRE a career. Subsequently, the development of the CRE certificate program, in partnership with the Risk Management Association, has been especially beneficial and rewarding for DCOB graduating students.”
By bringing the industry to campus, the HCU Commercial Real Estate Forum offers more than insight. It offers access, perspective and the opportunity for students to step directly into the conversation shaping the environment around them.