Jon Lulu
Incoming Associate Director
Graaskamp Center for
Real Estate
The Wisconsin Real Estate Program is delighted to welcome Jon Lulu as Associate Director of Real Estate Graduate Programs at the Graaskamp Center for Real Estate. Jon brings over three decades of experience in real estate investment, research, and business development to the Wisconsin School of Business. His career spans leadership roles across property sectors in institutional asset management and both private and public market investing, with a particular focus on building and scaling entrepreneurial real estate platforms and investment teams.
Most recently, Jon held senior executive and investment roles at Pantheon and Jaguar Growth Partners, where he led initiatives in capital formation, portfolio management, and strategic growth. Over the course of his career, Jon held leadership positions with LaSalle Investment Management, JPMorgan, and Equity International, as well as a range of other prominent firms — experience that provides him with a range of perspectives that will help prepare students for diverse career paths.
In his new role, Jon will lead, coach, and mentor graduate students, focusing on recruiting and career services for the Real Estate MBA and MS Programs. He will also work closely with WSB and Graaskamp teams to support students through applied learning, industry connections, and academic and career advising. Additionally, Jon will apply his industry knowledge and expertise to teaching real estate courses, something he greatly looks forward to as part of his commitment to developing future leaders in real estate.
Jacques Gordon, Director of the Graaskamp Center, shared his enthusiasm for Jon’s appointment, stating, “Jon’s career reflects the kind of breadth and practical wisdom that make Wisconsin Real Estate so distinctive. He understands how investment platforms are built, how teams thrive, and how to prepare future professionals to navigate a complex and evolving industry. Jon’s commitment to mentoring and his ability to connect classroom learning with industry insight will make him a great addition to our team.”
Jon holds a B.A. in Geography with a minor in Urban Planning from the State University of New York and an MBA with concentrations in Finance, Strategy, and Marketing from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He has been active in industry associations such as AFIRE, PREA, and IREI, and has served on the board of an organization focused on homelessness prevention.
Please join us in welcoming Jon Lulu to the Wisconsin Real Estate community! We look forward to the perspective, mentorship, and leadership he will bring to our students and programs.
Learn more about Jon and what he’s most excited about as he joins the Graaskamp Center in his new role as Associate Director of the Real Estate Graduate Programs.
What excites you most about stepping into the Associate Director of the Real Estate Graduate Program role at this moment in the program’s history?
Throughout my career in real estate, the Graaskamp Center and the Real Estate program at UW broadly has always been equated in my mind with the right blend of academic thought leadership and practical excellence in preparing professionals for dynamic careers. I have been fortunate over the years to have worked and partnered with many UW real estate alums, so my impression on that latter point comes from direct experience. To be in this position – with a chance to focus my experience, insights, and knowledge directly on furthering that legacy – is extremely exciting, and humbling.
Thinking beyond this, it also excites me to view these programs in the context of an ever-changing real estate landscape. Whether it is the speed of technological advancement, the evolution of capital markets, or simply the always changing human behaviors that shape demand and usage patterns, I see all these trends presenting new and vibrant opportunities for today’s students, and for the Department’s programs.
How do you see the Wisconsin Real Estate Program continuing to differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive academic landscape?
One of Wisconsin’s key differentiators in my mind has always been its ability to blend academic rigor with real-world practicality – and to use that combination to innovate in the areas of teaching and preparing students.
Starting with the late Professor James A. Graaskamp and his pioneering contributions in both academia and practice, this legacy continues today through the exceptional faculty and staff who make up the Center and the Department. UW’s innovative tracks—such as AREIT and REPE—and its timely focus on affordable housing not only distinguish the program but also serve as dynamic laboratories that connect the university, faculty, and students to the real world in ways that both facilitate—and even necessitate—innovation.
When you combine this with the incredibly valuable input of a highly active and engaged Graaskamp Center board and alumni networks, I see Wisconsin Real Estate as well positioned in the competitive environment. It will take sustained effort to maintain this edge, but this is another reason I look forward to joining.
As you look forward to connecting with our graduate students, what’s one piece of career or industry advice you might share with them?
I can’t wait to truly get to know the students and advise them in an individualized way, but at the top level I would start with this piece of advice: maintain a flexible and curious mind and work hard to discover your truest and deepest interests. Then be willing to change course. Career success and satisfaction tends to flow most freely from genuine interest, so take this time to explore – and don’t be afraid to think broadly.