William and Mary Real Estate Foundation
Executive Director
As Executive Director Nancy Buchanan serves as the president and chief executive officer of the William and Mary Real Estate Foundation. The Foundation's mission is to acquire, manage, sell, lease, and develop real properties in support of the educational goals of William & Mary. Most recently Nancy took the lead in developing Tribe Square, a mixed-use retail and housing project on Richmond Road in Williamsburg, Virginia. Not only do upper class students have the option to live in these premium student apartments but the national and local franchise restaurants in Tribe Square have enhanced the student and employee experience at William & Mary.
Nancy is an active member and past president of the national Association of University Real Estate Officials (AUREO). AUREO gave Nancy The Lessenger Award on September 11, 2012. The Award is given "In recognition of your commitment and outstanding contributions to the Association of University Real Estate Officials and the higher education community and in grateful thanks for many years of leadership and devoted service to the Association and its members". Nancy was also named one of the Top 20 Women in Richmond Commercial Real Estate in 2010. She holds the MAI designation from the Appraisal Institute and is past president of the Richmond Chapter of the Society of Real Estate Appraisers.
Before coming to the Real Estate Foundation in January 2007, she was Director of Real Estate and Insurance Services at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). Nancy was instrumental in the acquisition of numerous small properties in order to create what is now the VCU School of Business and the VCU School of Engineering, not to mention additional university housing. The construction of these structures has not only expanded VCU's footprint in the city, but has greatly contributed to the Richmond skyline. She also taught Advanced Real Estate Appraising in VCU's School of Business.
Prior to her time at VCU, Nancy spent 20 years in the real estate appraisal profession which included founding a real estate appraisal company.