TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Dr. Leonard V. Zumpano, the former executive director of the Alabama Center for Real Estate (ACRE), was inducted into the Culverhouse College of Business Faculty Hall of Fame. Zumpano becomes the 68th member to be inducted into the Faculty Hall of Fame since it was founded in 1989.
“The real estate program at Culverhouse has a reputation of being among the best in the country,” said Culverhouse Dean Kay Palan. “Earning such a reputation comes as a result of a tremendous amount of hard work, and I lay a lot of the credit at Dr. Zumpano’s feet. His confident expertise, productive relationships with industry, and mentorship of rising academics all are fundamental to the longstanding success of this program.”
Zumpano was instrumental in establishing ACRE, formally known as The Alabama Real Estate Research and Education Center, serving as the founding executive director in 1996 and held that position for 12 years. During his tenure, Zumpano was appointed as the executive editor of the Journal of Housing Research.
“Dr. Len Zumpano had an instrumental role in founding the Alabama Center for Real Estate, this center continues to provide impactful research, education, and service benefiting the real estate industry and our students,” said Dr. Alan Tidwell, associate professor of finance and the Alabama Association of Realtors Chair of Real Estate. “In addition, his profound impact on Real Estate at the University of Alabama resonates through the achievements of his many students who are achieving a legacy of excellence and success in both academia and industry.”
Before his retirement in 2014, Zumpano published more than 60 scholarly and professional articles in such journals as Real Estate Economics, the Journal of Real Estate Research, the Journal of Real Estate Finance and Economics, the Journal of Financial Research, and the Journal of Housing Research. His research has been widely cited and was quoted in The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, the Washington Times, the Chicago-Sun Times, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Detroit News.
He now serves as a board member emeritus with ACRE.
“On behalf of ACRE, I’m thrilled to congratulate Dr. Zumpano on his well-deserved induction into the Culverhouse College of Business Faculty Hall of Fame,” ACRE Executive Director, Grayson Glaze said. “This honor is a testament to his leadership, unwavering dedication and remarkable contributions that have left an indelible mark here at UA. His legacy inspires us all, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone with him.”
The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides an inclusive, forward-thinking environment and nearly 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’s largest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.
