DePaul University in Chicago has received a $2 million gift from Douglas Crocker II, retired president and CEO of Equity Residential Properties Trust, and his wife, Cynthia, to fund the director's position at its Real Estate Center.

In addition to the gift, which will fund the position in perpetuity, the university also announced that finance professor Susanne Cannon, who founded the center in 2002, will become its Douglas and Cynthia Crocker Endowed Director. Cannon will manage DePaul's real estate education, research, and professional development programs.

According to Cannon, Douglas Crocker has been engaged personally with the center's work since its founding. "He has co-taught advanced real estate investment MBA courses with me for three years, served on the committee that selects grants for case studies, mentored researchers and been a key advisor on the center's direction and strategies," she said. "As a nationally recognized leader in the real estate investment trust and multi-housing industries, he has been a remarkable asset for us. We are extremely grateful for the time, expertise, and resources he has devoted to the center."