In spring 2019, Schack students, alumni, and larger professional community gathered for a roundtable panel and dinner to celebrate the school’s commitment to LGBTQ diversity and inclusion, and the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising in New York City. On the heels of that historic event and Schack’s commitment to inclusion and diversity, the school recently announced the founding of the LGBTQ Scholarship, which will recognize a student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to supporting the LGBTQ community.
Carl Gray, who recently graduated from the development track and is pursuing a career in impact investing funds, helped organize the event. Gray worked with Dean Chandan and others to found the LGBTQ affinity group at Schack in late 2018. Of that effort, he says, "I felt like it was a value add opportunity not only for the NYU community, but for the greater New York real estate community."
The spring 2019 panel and dinner was attended by LGBTQ and LGBTQ-supporting industry professionals, many of whom have achieved great professional successes. In that way, the evening brought together people at different stages of their career, helping to foster connections. "The event create[d] mentoring opportunities with experienced professionals who have paved the way," Gray says. One key takeaway from the event was to "be yourself," he adds. Looking toward the future, Schack is committed to continuing to support the LGBTQ community.