Student Housing Insight

🎧Episode Summary: In this episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, host Wes Deese is joined by ambassador Alaina Jackson (PeakMade Real Estate) for an in-depth panel discussion on how student housing professionals can better connect with Gen Z renters. The conversation explores strategies for building authentic brands, leveraging micro-influencers, simplifying messaging, and staying agile...

🎧Episode Summary In this episode of Student Housing Insight, host Wes Deese leads a panel discussion focusing on off-campus student housing trends. Joined by industry experts Jason Taylor, KrisAnn Kizer, and Mark Miller, the panel explores leasing velocity, rental rate increases, the impact of international student enrollment, and public-private partnerships (P3s). Key topics include market-speci...

🎧 Episode Summary: In the final installment of the Tough Talks series, SHI Ambassador John Barr sits down with Jacob Kosior, a seasoned student housing operator turned VP at Elise AI. They explore the real-world challenges of implementing AI in property management, tackle the underestimated difficulties of change management, and dig into leadership development within the student housing space. Wi...

📄 Episode Summary In this episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, host Wesley Deese welcomes John Barr for the fourth installment of the Tough Talks series. John interviews Willie Butler, principal at Empower Property Management Consulting, a seasoned expert in the student housing industry known for his book “Releasing” and his work as a "leasing assassin." The conversation dives into the...

🔍 Summary In this episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, hosts Wesley Deese and John Barr welcome Nick Hill, COO of Up Campus, for a candid and insightful conversation as part of the Tough Talks series. With a diverse background in student housing across both U.S. and international markets, Nick shares a unique perspective on development, acquisitions, leadership, and the grit it takes t...

📌 Episode Summary: In this episode of Student Housing Insight, we sit down with Aryne Bailey, EVP of Student Housing at The Dinerstein Companies, as part of the “Tough Talk” series hosted by John Barr. Aryne opens up about her dynamic role, her take on AI and centralization in property operations, and the evolving challenges of acquisitions versus new developments. The conversation blends candid...

📘 Episode Summary In this premiere episode of the Tough Talk series from Student Housing Insight, host John Barr (Director of Leasing & Innovation, The Dinerstein Companies) sits down with JT Bailey, VP and GM of Student at RealPage. Together, they dive into the nuances of AI integration in student housing, the importance of keeping human interaction at the forefront, and the irreplaceable va...

📝 Episode Summary: In this special Lunch and Learn edition of the Student Housing Insight podcast, Wes Deese discusses the growing trend of using short-term rentals (STRs)—such as Airbnb and VRBO—as a strategy to offset vacancy in student housing. Featuring insights from Mickey Kropf of Vector Travel and Pam West of Campus Advantage, this session explores how STRs can be successfully integrated i...

 Student Housing Insight Podcast – Austin Round-Up 2025 In this engaging episode of Student Housing Insight, recorded live at the 17th Annual Interface Student Housing Conference in Austin, Texas, host Wes Deese brings together industry leaders to discuss the current state and future of the student housing sector. Held in mid-April 2025 at the JW Marriott, the conference attracted over 1,500 atten...

🎙️ Episode Title: Profiles in Student Housing: Bill Bayless of Maslow’s Campus Communities 📋 Episode Summary: In this special episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, host Wesley Deese sits down with industry legend Bill Bayless, co-founder and former CEO of American Campus Communities and current CEO and founder of Maslow’s Campus Communities. From his humble beginnings in West Virginia t...

In this episode, co-host Greta Dare sits down with Alex Wallace, Development Manager at College Housing Northwest (CHNW), to explore how the nonprofit has been delivering affordable housing to Portland-area students since 1969. They discuss CHNW’s origins, current initiatives, and how the organization is partnering with schools and government programs to address rising student housing insecurity a...

In this milestone episode of Student Housing Insight, host Wesley Deese sits down with founders and co-owners of SouthPark Interiors, Martha Thomley and Lisa Brooks, to commemorate 20 years of excellence in interior design for the student housing industry. From their humble beginnings to establishing one of the most trusted design firms in the market, this episode is a heartfelt and insightful con...

In this episode, host Wesley Dease previews the upcoming Interface Student Housing Conference, the largest global event for the student housing industry. Wesley is joined by Rich Kelly from Student Housing Business to discuss the conference’s history, its growth, and what attendees can expect this year in Austin, Texas, from April 9-11. They explore key sessions, networking opportunities, and emer...

In this episode, Wesley Deese and co-host Alexis Krissay dive into the world of social media marketing for student housing. They discuss the importance of creating engaging, two-way conversations online rather than just posting content for the sake of it. The episode covers strategies for making social media content relevant to students, the role of leasing agents as social media ambassadors, and...

In this episode of the Student Housing Insight podcast, host Wesley Deese sits down with Andrew Marshall and Rob Collins of Campus Technologies, Inc. to discuss the critical role of internet infrastructure in student housing. As expectations for fast, reliable Wi-Fi continue to rise, student housing operators must navigate the challenges of upgrading aging networks, optimizing connectivity, and fu...

In this insightful episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, host Wesley Deese and guest Alexis Krisay, founder of Serendipit Consulting, tackle a critical topic: how leasing teams can better engage with prospects. Drawing from experiences that student residents described at the recent LeaseCon+TurnCon event, Wesley and Alexis discuss why strong interpersonal connections are crucial to creat...

In this episode of the Student Housing Insight Podcast, host Wesley dives into a critical topic for student housing professionals as the winter months approach: preparing properties for freezing temperatures and mitigating the risks associated with winter weather. Joined by experts Lance Lemoine from Lemoine Disaster Services and Jonathan Epstein from Salamander Reservoir, this episode offers a co...

In this episode, we dive into the student housing crisis in California, exploring the challenges faced by developers and students alike. Wesley speaks with Riaz Taplin, founder of Riaz Capital, about his innovative solutions to address affordability while leveraging art and thoughtful design. From regulatory hurdles to creative development strategies, this episode offers insights for anyone intere...

In this episode, we’re diving into a crucial and timely conversation about the current political landscape and what it means for the student housing industry. With a new administration on the horizon and the balance of power in Congress shifting, the regulatory and legislative landscape is poised for change. Joining us is Dave Borzos from NMHC, who provides a deep dive into the potential impacts o...

In this episode, host Wesley Deese welcomes special co-host Alex Rippy , VP of Leasing and Systems at GMH Communities, to discuss to discuss how the kick-off of the '25 Pre-leasing season is going for the U.S. student housing industry. They also review October's ShopTalk panel on pre-leasing and what the early data is showing.  Topics include market insights on leasing velocity, and rent growth ex...

In this special "Behind the Biz" episode of the Student Housing Insight podcast, host Wesley Deese chats with Danny Soule from Zego to explore how the company is bringing innovation to utility management in student housing. From their origins in payment processing to their recent work with American Campus Communities (ACC), Zego has developed a robust platform that helps operators reduce utility c...

In this episode, Wes sits down with Whitney Kidd of Iris Technologies , and SHI Ambassador, Mike Kivitz from The Preiss Co ., to have a frank discussion on what's ahead for the student housing industry as it relates to prop-tech.  We cover everything from property management systems and smart locks to AI.   This episode is sponsored by TheGuarantors.  To find out more about how they can help your...

In this podcast episode, Wes lays out all of the student housing conferences that are being hosted this fall and provides insights from a few of the organizers. This episode is sponsored by TheGuarantors.  To find out more about how they can help your property approve more prospect and help eliminate bad debt, visit their website at: https://bit.ly/3WmNsqa Links: Student Housing Insight: www. Stud...

In this episode of the Student Housing Insight podcast, Wes interviews two operators who manage large portfolios in a single or regional market to hear their perspective on what it is like to manage a scattered site portfolio that covers everything from modern purpose-built student housing to single-family homes. Aaron Harris Kirby is the Market President at Point West Management by Granite in Bla...

In this episode of the Student Housing Insight podcast, SHI Ambassador, Terrence Jackson shares tips for site staff on how to finish out the summer without losing focus on leasing and operations. 00:00 - Teaser 00:21 - Sponsor's Ad 01:55 - Intro 08:27 - Summer Slide 17:20 - Outro This episode is sponsored by TheGuarantors. For more information on how TheGuarantors can help approve more student ren...