Amanda Dillon Nielson is the 2020 outstanding graduate for her tremendous achievements in the Master of Real Estate Development program. Amanda came to the Eccles School from Arcadia, California, and will be graduating with a Master of Real Estate Development and a Master of City & Metropolitan Planning. She was the recipient of the Women in Commercial Real Estate (CREW) Utah Elevate Scholarship, the Price Realty CCIM Scholarship, and the MRED Student Scholarship. “I had the pleasure of being the instructor in a couple of classes that Amanda was enrolled in this past year. Throughout the year, Amanda was an active participant in our discussions, and she always supported her peers. Her caring nature and personality allowed her to work well with others in a team setting, as she always respects others’ opinions even when they differ from her own,” said one of Amanda’s professors. “Amanda demonstrated an openness to and empathy for the opinions, feelings, and perspectives of others, along with shrewd powers of observation, all qualities that makes her outstanding as a student and will serve her well as an active member of the real estate development community.” Jamie Bay, Professor of FINAN 6040 said, “Amanda was an outstanding student in my Excel class. She is very dedicated, diligent and a great leader.” Another professor added, “I had Amanda in two classes. She is the best student I have ever taught.”
Her plans after graduation include continuing to work at MHTN Architects and expanding into the real estate development field. Congratulations Amanda, and welcome to your alumni network! Read on to see Amanda’s answers to our questions about her Eccles Experience.
What was your most memorable experience as an Eccles student?
It’s hard to pick one moment as the most memorable because there were so many. A few that stand out include the moment I realized I was going to go for the dual major (MCMP and MRED) in my Real Estate Finance class because Brandon and Danny were so great, had so many good guest speakers, and made me feel like I could succeed in the degree. The times I presented our final ideas and plans for development with my group to our clients in my real estate consulting and professional project classes. The late-night prepping our solution with my team for the Hack-a-House challenge. And the time I won $100 in class from a guest lecturer in my Real Estate Lab class for answering a question right.
What clubs, competitions, and/or activities did you participate in?
Ivory Innovations Hack-a-House 2019, Real Estate Consulting Class
What was your favorite class?
Professional Project and Real Estate Finance
Is there anyone you’d like to thank, acknowledge or shout out?
Danny Wall, Flyn Dawson, Deborah Hansen, Abby Reiser, Greg Bisping, Brandon Duke, Tucker White, and all the great MRED students I studied with.
