Introduction
Texas Tech University is renaming its Center for Real Estate in the Jerry S. Rawls College of Business after alumni John and Rachel Brownlee, following a significant philanthropic gift tied to ON&ON: The Campaign for Texas Tech University. The donation is positioned as a long-term investment in commercial real estate education, designed to expand student opportunities and strengthen connections between the university and industry partners.
New Name and Expanded Support for Students
With the gift, the center will become the John and Rachel Brownlee Center for Real Estate. The contribution is intended to fund a broad range of needs including scholarships, internships, student travel to conferences and events, and support for faculty, staff, and research. University leaders said the goal is to increase the center’s impact by helping more students launch careers and by elevating Texas Tech’s visibility in commercial real estate education.
Center Focus and Academic Offerings
Founded in 2016 within the Area of Finance in Rawls College, the center has emphasized academic programming, student engagement, research initiatives, and partnerships with alumni and industry professionals. Nearly 300 students are enrolled in the center’s commercial real estate courses, which are available to all Rawls College students regardless of major. Students in select majors from the Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources and the Edward E. Whitacre College of Engineering can also participate.
Students who complete four courses totaling 12 credit hours earn a Certificate in Commercial Real Estate. The certificate is designed to prepare graduates for roles across the commercial real estate ecosystem, including brokerage, appraisal, and property and asset management.
Why the Gift Matters for Industry Alignment
Center leadership described growing demand from both students and employers. The program’s stated objective is to sit at the intersection of workforce readiness and industry access, offering employers a pipeline to graduates trained with relevant commercial real estate skills while also building a stronger professional network around Texas Tech’s research and talent base.
Brownlee Background and CRE Leadership
John Brownlee earned a BBA in Marketing in 1994, and Rachel Brownlee earned a BA in Advertising with a minor in marketing the same year. John has more than 30 years of experience in commercial real estate and has originated and structured more than $12 billion in transactions. He is a principal at Brownlee Waggoner Holdings, LLC, a Dallas-based real estate investment firm co-founded in 2025, and holds the CRE® (Counselor of Real Estate) designation.
Before that, he served as a senior managing director at JLL (formerly HFF) and held leadership roles across major industry organizations. His roles have included chair of the ULI DFW District Council and service on councils and boards connected to ULI, The Counselors of Real Estate, and advisory work linked to Freddie Mac.
Ongoing Engagement With Texas Tech
The announcement emphasized that the Brownlees’ support extends beyond funding. John Brownlee chairs the Brownlee Center for Real Estate Advisory Council and serves on the Texas Tech Foundation Board and the Rawls College Dean’s Advisory Council, with the stated goal of mentoring students and strengthening industry ties. The couple resides in Dallas and has three daughters.
Conclusion
The renaming of the center reflects Texas Tech’s strategy to expand commercial real estate education through donor-backed scholarships, experiential learning, and stronger industry partnerships. By funding program growth and student support, the Brownlees’ gift is designed to increase career outcomes, deepen alumni engagement, and strengthen the university’s role in developing the next generation of commercial real estate professionals.
