Six University of Wisconsin undergraduate students were selected as Ferguson Fellows in the 2025-2026 fellowship class. The six students selected join four UW-Madison juniors and seniors selected for the program last year. The fellowship was created by the Ferguson Center for Leadership Excellence as an educational and networking experience to empower racially and ethnically diverse students, as well as those identifying with diverse gender identities in the real estate field. The program includes a mentorship program, additional real estate curriculum, and internship opportunities for all fellows. In addition, five of the six UW Fellows were selected for a $10,000 scholarship. The program’s goal is to prepare diverse real estate students to lead the future of the real estate industry.
Lucy Allen, a Ferguson Fellow selected for the program in 2024 shared “through the Ferguson Fellowship, I have been able to form connections with real estate professionals from a variety of different firms and learn about their unique careers. These networking opportunities have opened up doors to job opportunities and lasting relationships in the field.” The Ferguson Fellowship also provides ample opportunities to develop soft skills that help students maintain the connections and opportunities awarded through the fellowship. Angelo Alfaro, a Ferguson Fellow also selected for the program in 2024 shared, “The self-learning modules provided by LifeRamp helped me develop the essential soft skills necessary for my previous summer analyst role. Additionally, access to a LifeRamp Coach has been instrumental in enhancing both my professional and personal development. Without this fellowship, I don’t believe I would have been as prepared for my summer internship.”
Current fellows like Lucy and Angelo have also enjoyed connecting with real estate students at different universities accross the country, an opportunity rarely available through the real estate program. In addition, they have benefited from the Ferguson Fellowship mentor directory, which gives Fellows the opportunity to connect with professionals at all levels, from analysts to executives.
The UW Madison 2025-2026 Ferguson Fellowship recipients are:
- Brooke Hendry
- Mason Howard
- Daniel Perez-Pineda
- Carson Possedi
- Macy Verhasselt
- William Castillo
When asked why he applied to the program, Carson Possedi responded, “I was interested in the Ferguson CLE because it offers a unique platform with extensive resources that I can use to deepen my real estate knowledge and advance toward my goal of becoming an industry leader. The program’s emphasis on professional development, technical training, and leadership will be invaluable for refining my skills and expanding my professional network.” Incoming Fellow Mason Howard also responded, “I applied to the program to connect with a diverse group of students interested in the real estate field, receive personalized mentorship, and further my professional development.” The Ferguson Fellowship program is a unique program that builds connections and prepares students to be leaders of tomorrow. William Castillo looks forward to building leadership skills, sharing, “the Ferguson Fellowship Program will allow me to engage with real-world leadership challenges, which will allow me to bring my insights to networking events and class projects and draw connections within my coursework.”
The Ferguson Fellowship is not just for real estate students-it connects students with diverse backgrounds who share interests in the multi-faceted real estate industry. Brooke Hendry, an engineering student with interests in real estate shared, “one thing I hope to gain from the program is a more well-rounded understanding of what the real estate industry entails. As an industrial engineer, I don’t get any exposure in my classes, so this program is a great way for me to gain a general knowledge of what the real estate industry looks like.”
The 2025-2026 Fellowship class will begin with an event at the end of November. These exceptional students will benefit from new connections and professional development through the Ferguson Fellowship. Freshmen and sophomores looking at joining the program can begin to apply in June. In the meantime, they are able to show interest and receive email updates when the application is available.