Research is the foundation

Wichita State University is Kansas' only urban-serving research institution.

"'Research' is the key word," said Stan Longhofer, founding director of the Wichita State University Center for Real Estate and the Stephen L. Clark Chair of Real Estate and Finance.

Stan was attracted to quality academic research in grad school after receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration degree in economics from WSU in 1989. That attraction has been consistent throughout his entire academic career.

"I challenge you to find a dynamic, growing city without a quality research institution," said Stan. "Research universities bring together large groups of creative people who help spur a community's economic growth and development."

Stan's research areas include housing market dynamics, mortgage discrimination and land use and public policy. He has been published in Real Estate Economics, Financial Management and Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, among other leading academic journals. He also authors the Center for Real Estate's annual Wichita Housing Market Forecast.

For Stan, the academic research is the foundation for WSU's two key products: education and community outreach.

"Quality research lays the groundwork," said Stan. "With it, you can deliver cutting edge education for your students and resources for the community at large."

Stan believes that what makes WSU unique is that our urban setting allows education and community outreach feed back into the research questions we investigate.

"We learn what questions are relevant and what types of information can be used by private businesses," said Stan. "We can then use our skills to research these questions, teach the answers to our students and share them with the community at large to help the private sector be more successful.

His relationship with community professionals has helped keep him current on thought, theory and practice. His interactions with them also helped define how the real estate program is structured.

Stan is also grateful for the world-class players in Wichita who are willing to be accessible to WSU students.

"Their input adds real world relevance and makes the subject jump off the page," said Stan.

Stan believes that WSU's value to the community will continue to grow, enriching the quality of life of our neighbors. This will happen through research, relationships and communication of the university's assets.

"I truly believe that supporting quality academic research at WSU will have long-term benefits to Wichita and the entire state that will far exceed the cost of the investment," said Stan.