Real Estate Externship Connects Roger Williams University Students with Industry Leaders in New York City
The Cummings Institute for Real Estate continues to offer students hands-on learning and career shaping connections through its immersive externship program.
NEW YORK – Graduate and undergraduate students from Roger Williams University gained hands-on exposure to the evolving real estate industry in January during a two-day externship in New York City. The program marked the second consecutive year students traveled to the city through the university’s Cummings Institute for Real Estate.
Hosted by Shawmut Design and Construction, RXR, and Shimenti Construction, the externship included tours of active project sites and corporate offices, as well as conversations with industry leaders. Students explored large-scale developments, project management, construction operations, and the business strategies driving real estate ventures in one of the world’s most competitive markets.
Issa Ramaji, Director of the Cummings Institute for Real Estate, designed the program to foster meaningful one-on-one engagement between students and industry professionals.
“We want to connect our students to the opportunities that our advisors can provide,” Ramaji said, noting that the experience helps students understand “how big and complex this industry is and how important collaboration is in creating success.”
The externship emphasizes the full real estate development lifecycle, with a focus on construction practices, interdisciplinary collaboration, and commercial and mixed-use projects. Students engaged directly with professionals to learn how projects move from concept and financing through design, construction, and completion.
The trip also included an alumni networking reception, connecting students with university graduates working in Construction Management, Real Estate development, and Business across New York City.
Ramaji said that through direct engagement with professionals and real-world projects, students apply what they learn in the classroom to practical situations. He added that the annual externship reflects the university’s commitment to experiential learning, deepening students’ understanding of the field and helping them gain confidence as they prepare for careers in real estate.