The Kate Coburn Travel and Research Fellowship for Emerging Women in Real Estate honors the legacy of Kate Coburn’s lasting impact on the industry.
Kate was a trailblazer known for her transformative work revitalizing downtowns and creating vibrant, thriving places across cities in Alabama, California, Louisiana, New York, Texas, and beyond. Throughout her career, she held key roles as a Partner at HR&A Advisors and a leader at AECOM, Economics Research Associates (ERA), Cushman & Wakefield, and Rockefeller Center.
Beyond her professional achievements, Kate was a dedicated mentor who inspired and guided generations of real estate leaders through her involvement with organizations such as Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW), New York Women Executives in Real Estate (WX), Public-Private Real Estate Professionals (P/PREP), and the Young Men’s/Women’s Real Estate Association.
Kate was particularly a champion for women in real estate, serving as a mentor to so many in the industry and paving the way for the next generation of women in real estate.
As part of her work, Kate loved to travel and explore cities. Her work was grounded in her sense of a place. In keeping with Kate’s passion for experiencing new places, this annual fellowship will provide a unique opportunity for the recipient to travel to a U.S. city and engage with local officials and practitioners involved in public-private real estate development, while immersing themselves in the city’s cultural and urban fabric. The recipient will receive $2,500 to cover 2-3 days of travel expenses.
The ideal candidate is a woman in the real estate industry —or an ally who actively advances the role of women in real estate—and is eager to explore public-private real estate development through hands-on, immersive research. This individual is an early- to mid-career professional with 1–5 years of professional experience. They are curious, motivated, and ready to engage with local professionals and stakeholders, bringing a clear purpose and a thoughtfully planned itinerary that reflects a commitment to learning from their chosen city’s unique dynamics.
The fellowship seeks a candidate who exemplifies the values and spirit that defined Kate’s impact—highlighted by her dedication to inclusive mentorship, deep curiosity about how cities operate and evolve, and a commitment to finding public-private solutions that strengthen communities. Through this fellowship, Kate’s dedication to supporting the growth of the next generation of leaders in real estate will continue to inspire and empower the fellows who carry forward her legacy.
This fellowship is being launched thanks to support from HR&A Advisors.
The Fellowship Includes:
$2,500 for travel and expenses
Trip planning support through the P/PREP network
Truly unique and curated networking opportunities
A celebration of the fellowship
If you are interested in applying for the 2025 Fellowship, please submit an application by November 14, 2025
Click here to apply on our Google Forms Application
We are thankful to HR&A for supporting the fellowship and providing an opportunity to carry on Kate’s incredible history of supporting the growth of women in the real estate industry.
Any questions regarding the fellowship can be directed to pprep.nyc@gmail.com