Beginning this August, we are thrilled to welcome Christopher Kemp to the Wisconsin Real Estate Program as a Lecturer. A seasoned expert in commercial real estate finance and development, Chris brings over two decades of experience specializing in financial analysis, debt structuring, and asset management, with a deep focus on community development and affordable housing.
Chris has built his career around impactful, mission-driven finance. He served as Deputy Director for Milwaukee LISC and played a key underwriting role for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) projects at the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA). These experiences have made him a trusted leader in the LIHTC market and among Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), where he is known for developing innovative solutions to complex housing and commercial real estate challenges.
Before entering the real estate and finance sectors, Chris served in the U.S. Army as an East Asian Intelligence Analyst. His military background instilled a strong foundation in analytical rigor, strategic leadership, and adaptive problem-solving—skills that continue to inform his approach to business and community development.
As a Lecturer, Chris will be teaching Real Estate Investment Analysis and Presentation and Commercial Property Development. Beginning this fall, he will also take over leading the student case competitions from Arif Qureshi, who has done a fantastic job in that role for the past five years. In 2027, Kemp will expand his teaching portfolio to include Real Estate Excel Modeling.
A native of Milwaukee, Kemp holds an MBA (‘03) from the Wisconsin School of Business with a concentration in Real Estate Finance and Urban Land Economics, as well as a BBA in Finance and a Six Sigma Black Belt.
“We are thrilled to welcome back Chris to the Wisconsin Real Estate Program,” said Tim Carr, Director of the Graaskamp Center. “His diverse background working in the housing industry and in the U.S. Army will help him bring analytical skills and a leadership background that will resonate with our students. Chris has a deep understanding of both the technical and human sides of real estate, and he will connect well with the students.”
Please join us in welcoming Christopher Kemp back to the Wisconsin Real Estate community!
Learn more about Chris and what he’s most excited about as he returns to the Wisconsin Real Estate Program
What excites you most about joining the Wisconsin Real Estate Program at this moment in the program’s history?
I am excited about coming back to the Graaskamp Program in this new capacity as a lecturer and working in an environment with professional educators who are preparing the next generation of real estate professionals for the working world. I look forward to sharing my experiences and interacting with students while exploring new and groundbreaking opportunities and industry trends that may impact housing and commercial real estate development and finance.
How do you see the Wisconsin Real Estate Program continuing to differentiate itself in an increasingly competitive academic landscape?
I believe that the Wisconsin Real Estate Program has continued to adapt to the ever-changing industry landscape by offering the specific disciplines—whether it be the affordable housing track, AREIT, real estate development, private equity, or valuation. Doing this is so important because our product, “the real estate student,” must be equipped with diverse and adaptable skills to meet these industry challenges.
What courses will you be teaching and how will your background impact how you teach?
I will teach RE661 (Real Estate Investment Analysis and Presentation), RE750 (Commercial Property Development), and lead the case competitions. In addition, I will take over RE411 (Real Estate Excel Modeling) in Fall 2027.
What makes UW–Madison’s real estate community so unique, in your opinion?
The program has always stood out among its peers and has been at the top of real estate and urban economics academia since Chief passed on. I believe the core strength—and what differentiates our program from others around the country—is the familial connection that we, the alumni, have to the program. There is a strong connection and sense of pride coming from the #1 real estate program in the country. As this connection continues, we will only get better and stronger.
And finally — you’ve lived in Madison before, but what are you most looking forward to doing when you move back to Madison?
I really look forward to coming back to Madison for a number of reasons: the Terrace, Baraka’s Ethiopian restaurant, the hustle and bustle of State Street, football and basketball games. All of the friends that I’ve had for over 20-plus years since I graduated still live in Madison. Madison is a great place to live and has grown so much since I was last here, but it still holds that Bucky-town feel. I have family in Madison as well, including my father and stepmom, and my brother and his three kids. My nephew Elliot is a great swimmer for Verona, and it is his last year of high school. I look forward to spending time with him and his siblings before he is off to college—and before they grow up and don’t want to hang out with their old uncle anymore. LOL! On, Wisconsin!