After many years of hard work and commitment, Mary Peralta will retire as program manager of the USC Ross Program in Real Estate on June 30.
During her time with the program, Peralta has been more than a manager. She has been a leader, a mentor, and the North Star guiding the program’s success.
The USC Ross Program in Real Estate was established at a critical moment in Los Angeles's history. In the aftermath of the 1992 Rodney King riots, USC partnered with the Community Redevelopment Agency of Los Angeles (CRA-LA), a state organization established to encourage public/private projects in LA communities.
Together, they launch a program with a powerful mission: to provide real estate development education to individuals from underrepresented communities. Designed to equip students with the skills necessary to thrive in the real estate sector, the program focused on the redevelopment of underserved neighborhoods.
Peralta’s journey began in 2008 when she joined the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate as a program assistant supporting fundraising efforts for the Lusk Center.
While working closely with Dawn Santos, the Ross program’s manager at the time, Peralta developed a growing passion for the program’s mission. When Santos left to continue her education, Peralta applied for and was selected as the new program manager. In this role, Peralta helped expand its reach and made sure more people had access to real estate development education.
“I wanted to be part of something meaningful,” Peralta shared. That dedication defined her tenure. She managed what she often described as a “one-and-a-half-person job” with efficiency and grace.
The program’s earliest students came from a wide range of backgrounds, and were already professionals, with an average age of 38. They held jobs in banks, community groups, and nonprofits focused on housing, many were real estate agents, brokers, appraisers, planners, or architects.
Others worked for housing authorities or land-use organizations. While most students do not end up developing properties themselves, they leave with a strong understanding of the real estate process. This helps them lead and make a difference in their communities.
For 17 years, the program was called the Ross Minority Program in Real Estate. In 2018, Stan Ross, the program’s namesake, passed away. A few years later, in 2021, his family, who continue to support the program, asked for a name change. They felt the word “minority” no longer fit the program’s inclusive values and the language of today. The program was renamed the Ross Program in Real Estate in Winter 2022.
Through all these changes, Peralta ensured the program stayed true to its mission: opening doors to real estate development by educating and empowering its students. As the program continues to grow, it remains focused on building a more fair and inclusive real estate industry—one where everyone has a voice. The USC Ross Program has transformed lives and played a key role in revitalizing communities across Los Angeles.
Peralta also played a key role in building a strong alumni network. Among the many events held throughout the year, some free, others ticketed, she introduced a special tradition: an annual summer barbecue for alumni and their families, held every June.
As she prepares for retirement, Peralta looks forward to a well-deserved rest and a new chapter in her life. She advises students to “always be there to assist, to help, to serve, to offer your hand, to mentor, sponsor, and volunteer—because I tell all the students: you only get out
of it what you put into it.”
“I’ve loved this program from the start,” she said. “Being part of it has been a privilege.”The Ross Program in Real Estate is a four-week in-person certificate program designed for professionals focused on community development and equity. Currently, the program runs
twice a year, in winter and summer.
Applications are accepted online through the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
Visit lusk.usc.edu/ross to learn more.