News Item
Press Release: Real Estate Investor David Z. Hirsh to Join Pace’s Board of Trustees
David Z. Hirsh ‘84, a real estate investor and retired senior executive at Blackstone, has been appointed to Pace University’s Board of Trustees. An alumnus, Hirsh strongly believes in Pace’s mission of Opportunitas, which emphasizes providing opportunities for all hard-working, ambitious students regardless of their backgrounds.
“David is a tremendous asset to Pace. His real estate expertise is invaluable and comes at a very exciting time for the University,” said Mark Besca, chair of the Pace University Board of Trustees. “He brings to the University deep knowledge, decades of experience, and a commitment to the transformative power of higher education.”
Hirsh has more than 30 years of experience across all major real estate product types in major U.S. markets. He retired from Blackstone’s Real Estate Asset Management Group in 2018, having completed more than $30 billion in transactions during his career. Most recently, Hirsh co-founded a platform for investing in proptech startups. He holds a BBA in accounting from Pace University and an MS in real estate development and investment from New York University.
“My Pace education laid the foundation for my career,” Hirsh said. “I'm a strong believer in Pace's mission to help change people's lives by providing the next generation of strivers and doers a college education. I look forward to putting my real estate experience to work building a greater sense of community and campus life at Pace.”
In addition to his service to Pace University, Hirsh is involved in many philanthropic efforts, which include fighting thyroid, head and neck cancer and supporting families suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. He also is active with New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate.
About Pace University
Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. Pace is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University’s Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, Pace has grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. Pace University has a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and a Law School in White Plains. Follow us on Twitter or on the Pace News website.
