Virginia Tech’s real estate program named for Richmond-area family after their $10 million donation | State and Regional News

A Richmond area developer and his family donated a total of $ 10 million to Virginia Tech’s real estate program.

The program now bears the Blackwood family name, the university said in recognition of donations from Willis Blackwood, his wife Mary Nolen Blackwood, and their children Morgan Blackwood Patel and Nolen Blackwood, all of Virginia Tech graduates.

Willis Blackwood and his wife donated $ 2 million to Virginia Tech’s real estate program in 2018, and the family has since provided additional support totaling $ 10 million, the university said.

Your gift is the greatest to the program.

In 1988, Willis Blackwood founded Blackwood Development Co., a Chesterfield County-based commercial real estate company providing new development, property management, leasing, brokerage and advisory services.

Willis Blackwood, the firm’s president, earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Virginia Tech in 1972. His wife received her bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1973 and their daughter graduated in 2002. The son, who graduated in 2010, is a partner in the real estate company.

Virginia Tech’s real estate program, which began with four students in August 2013 and has grown to more than 350 students, recently ranked third among the 25 best real estate programs in the country, according to Great Business Schools, a free online guide to business schools.

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