UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. –– The Penn State Smeal College of Business has announced the appointment of Tony Talbert as the new executive director of the Borrelli Institute of Real Estate Studies, effective May 1.
As executive director, Talbert will lead the institute's mission to advance real estate education and industry engagement while developing the next generation of real estate professionals through innovative programming and strategic partnerships.
"I am honored to join the Borrelli Institute of Real Estate Studies at Penn State," said Talbert. "As a Penn State alumnus, I'm thrilled to return to my alma mater and contribute to building one of the top real estate programs in the country. I look forward to strengthening industry connections, enhancing student outcomes and creating meaningful opportunities for alumni engagement."
In his new role, Talbert will bring a practitoner’s perspective to the classroom and oversee the institute's industry outreach programs. He will work closely with faculty, students, alumni and industry partners to enhance the Institute's offerings and create a dynamic learning environment that blends academic foundations with real-world experience.
"Tony brings an exceptional blend of industry expertise and Penn State passion that makes him an ideal leader for the Borrelli Institute," said Brent Ambrose, Jason and Julie Borrelli Faculty Chair in Real Estate, professor of real estate and the director of the Borrelli Institute for Real Estate Studies. "His extensive experience across the real estate investment landscape will help elevate our program to new heights."
Talbert brings more than 25 years of experience in real estate finance, acquisitions and investment to the position. As the founder of Pennsbury Capital, a private real estate investment firm, he directs investments across various asset classes nationwide, including a recently acquired 276-bed student housing property in State College that will provide unique opportunities for hands-on learning experiences for Penn State students.
Prior to founding Pennsbury Capital, Talbert served as a managing partner at the Shidler Group for 12 years, where he led the East Coast office and managed a team that successfully invested in over $3.8 billion of office, hotel and multifamily properties. Earlier in his career, Talbert was a managing director at Chatham Financial, where he co-led the capital advisory team and founded the commercial defeasance business.
Talbert earned his bachelor’s in industrial engineering from Penn State and was a Schreyer Honors Scholar. He also holds an MBA from Columbia Business School. He currently serves on the Schreyer Honors College External Advisory Board and brings his experience to building strong alumni networks.
The Borrelli Institute of Real Estate Studies, housed within Penn State Smeal, is dedicated to providing exceptional education in real estate studies, sponsoring conducting cutting-edge research and fostering connections between academia and industry professionals.
More information about the Borrelli Institute of Real Estate Studies can be found online.