The award is named for Art Cox, the longtime director of the UNI Center for Real Estate Education, who worked at UNI for more than 25 years before retiring in 2021. While leading the program, he was well known for his extensive connections in the real estate industry and with alumni, a strength he used to grow the program into what it is today.

“It’s not hard to see the influence he had on the real estate program,” said Brett Olsen, head of the UNI’s Department of Finance. “You go anywhere in the state and talk about UNI’s real estate program, 90% of them say Art Cox. He’s one of those people who knows everyone, and everyone knows him. This is a testament to what he’s meant to the program and to real estate throughout the Midwest.”

The creation of the Arthur T. Cox Real Estate Champion Award will be commemorated at the upcoming UNI Real Estate Alumni Reception and Award Presentation, hosted at the DMACC Urban Campus on Thursday, April 11. The inaugural recipient of this honor will be selected in 2025.

“Art Cox did a phenomenal job of staying connected to industry professionals,” said 1997 UNI graduate Chad Hade, now a leader at Principal Real Estate in Des Moines. “I think this event is a great way to honor his work and bring in people who are in the process of growing their connections while also helping people understand all the great things that UNI does for students and alumni.”