Back to School, Soon: The Future of Chicago Student Housing

As vice president of public-private partnerships, Jason Taylor participates in American Campus Communities (ACC) business development and university partnership efforts. His responsibilities include assisting university leaders in the evaluation of facility financing and delivery options. Prior to joining ACC in 2019, Jason participated in the planning and execution of more than $1.5 billion in public-private partnership student housing, and advised more than 140 colleges and universities on the planning, feasibility and financing of campus housing. He served as managing director of university partnerships at Greystar where he led P3 student housing business development and partnership efforts in the Midwest, Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. He also served as chief executive of the advisory services practice in his 12 years at The Scion Group, which served more than 200 campus markets and advised more than $4.5 billion of student housing development during his tenure. He is an active member of numerous industry and professional associations, including the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I) Foundation Board of Trustees and ACUHO-I P3 Working Group, and is a frequent panelist and presenter on public-private partnerships and the future of higher education. Taylor began his career in university housing marketing and public relations at the University of Michigan, where he received his degree in economics.

Patrick Flaherty is Senior Vice President in Blue Vista Capital Management’s student housing division, responsible for the analysis, asset management, acquisition, and execution of investment strategies for Blue Vista Capital Management’s student housing properties in United States and Canada. He also works closely with on-site property management and JV sponsors to oversee and drive performance of the assets. Prior to joining Blue Vista Capital Management in 2018, he was a Director at Kayne Anderson Real Estate where he worked on asset management and acquisitions for KAREA’s student housing and multifamily properties and Peak Campus Management, LLC, where he supported the department heads of the institutional-grade student housing property management company with financial, management and performance analysis. Patrick earned a BA from Saint Louis University.

J. Rex Tolliver was appointed Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2017. In this capacity, he provides leadership to more than 1,000 team members as they reimagine the student experience at UIC. As the Chief Student Affairs Officer on the campus, Rex provides guidance to the Dean of Students Office, Auxiliary Services, Student Centers, Campus Housing, Career Services, the Center for Student Involvement, Fraternity and Sorority Life, the Counseling Center, Financial Aid, the Center for Academic Excellence, and the UIC Forum and Pavilion to name a few. Tolliver started as the Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs in 2016 until his permanent appointment as vice chancellor. Tolliver has also served as the Executive Director of the Arizona Student Unions at the University of Arizona; the Executive Director of Auxiliary Services at LSU; and the Chief Business Officer for the Division of Student Affairs at Idaho State University and LSU. He has been responsible for the planning and construction of new facilities, developing public private partnerships, and the negotiation and management of over $25 million in university service agreements including but not limited to on-campus banking, housing, dining services, bookstores, vending, laundry, and campus mail. Tolliver holds a M.A. in Public Administration and a B.S. in Finance from LSU, and currently in his final year of the Juris Doctor program at Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

Brooke Lopeman is Executive Director of University Center, a 1732-bed mixed use property in downtown Chicago, and Area Regional Manager for Peak Made Real Estate, overseeing on-campus properties and relationships with thirteen university partners. In this role, Brooke oversees all property operations including operations & facilities management, residence life & conduct, housing & full-service dining operations, marketing & leasing, summer group & hotel housing, and more. Prior to her current role, Brooke oversaw all aspects of transitioning new operational properties and new developments as Peak Campus Management’s New Development and Transition Manager. This included managing onboarding and hiring new team members, system integration, marketing and leasing, facilities, client integration, and more.

Gene is a Principal and Studio Leader with HED Architects in Chicago, IL. He is actively involved in academic planning and design throughout HED’s eight locations across the US. Notable HED student life projects include Catlett Residence Hall at the University of Iowa, The Student Housing West P3 at UC Santa Cruz, and The Village at The University of Southern California. Gene is a veteran of architecture and planning with a background that includes successful, contemporary design leadership in the academic and development industries. He has led and designed successful student life projects, both public and private, throughout the nation and beyond and he has devoted his career to finding opportunities for lasting design within tough parameters and constraints. Gene holds a M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.A. from the University of Kentucky. Active in multiple industry organizations, he has presented frequently on issues regarding academic planning, programming and pedagogies related to student life.