James B. Connor, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Duke Realty Corporation, has been named vice chair of the Roosevelt University Board of Trustees.
Connor has been a longtime supporter of the University as a trustee and member of the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate advisory board. Connor and Duke Realty established the DREAM Fund Scholarship to support diversity and excellence in the real estate industry.
“Roosevelt’s founding commitment to diversity, inclusion and access make the University an invaluable asset to the Chicago community,” said Connor. “I am eager to work with President Malekzadeh and the board to continue to build on the University’s historic mission.”
Duke Realty is one of the largest owners, developers and managers of industrial properties in the United States and a NYSE-listed company with a total enterprise value of more than $20 billion. Duke Realty, which specializes in modern, bulk warehouse and logistics facilities in the top 20 distribution markets in the United States, has a portfolio in excess of 160 million square feet.
Under Connor's leadership, the company was repositioned from a diversified REIT with holdings in the industrial, office, retail, medical and mixed-use sectors to the largest domestic U.S. industrial REIT. The repositioning, which was completed over a seven-year period, included rebuilding the company's balance sheet, which culminated in ratings upgrades to BBB+ and being added to the S&P 500.
“Jim’s perspective and engagement on the board has been crucial to Roosevelt’s success in the past two years,” said Ali Malekzadeh, Roosevelt University president. “I am pleased to welcome him as vice chair and continue our work together to advance the University.”
Connor’s three-year term will begin September 1, 2021. Maurice Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Health Care Service Corporation, was elected to serve as Board of Trustees chair.