Shaun Sanders is a finance and real estate executive with more than two decades of experience spanning institutional finance, commercial real estate, investment analysis and real estate development. As director of the Gatton Center for Real Estate and a lecturer in finance at the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics, he is committed to bridging the gap between academic theory and professional practice.
Prior to joining UK, Sanders held leadership roles with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and private real estate investment and development firms, overseeing transactions involving commercial lending, capital markets, acquisitions, development and portfolio management. His industry experience ranges from single-family residential development to large-scale commercial and mixed-use investments.
At UK, Sanders teaches Principles of Real Estate, Real Estate Finance and Investment, and Corporate Finance while developing innovative experiential learning opportunities that connect students with industry professionals, live case studies and applied financial modeling. He also leads initiatives focused on expanding real estate education through interdisciplinary partnerships, professional certifications and industry engagement.
A UK alumnus, Sanders earned his MBA with concentrations in finance and real estate from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill after completing his undergraduate studies in finance at UK. His research and professional interests include housing affordability, real estate development, capital markets, urban growth and preparing the next generation of real estate leaders.
