Meet our
senior officers.

Steve Beinke

SVP, Tax
Texas A&M University
B.B.A. Accounting
M.S. Accounting 

First student housing experience: Typical no-frills freshman residence hall. Callaway House was still under construction back then!

Most memorable college experience: That's easy - walking across the stage at Reed Arena with two degrees in hand and zero college debt. 

Favorite thing about college: A&M's rich traditions and the friendships and bonds created with fellow Aggies that last to this day. 

Something most people don't know: I grew up an air force brat and lived in Fairbanks, Alaska for five years. Many years, and many sweltering summers later, I'll still take the Texas heat over brutal Fairbanks winters any day. 

Favorite college-themed movie: Rudy 

As a key member of ACC’s tax function, Steve oversees the planning, organization and implementation of all tax initiatives at American Campus Communities.  In addition to ensuring ACC’s compliance with all REIT tax laws and regulations, and directing the tax due diligence performed in connection with various transactions, he is charged with implementing tax optimization strategies for federal, state, and local tax filings, and drives tax reduction efforts by assessing the company’s current tax strategies and exploring and implementing new tax opportunities.  From an operations perspective, Steve also oversees ACC’s property tax function for its 30 plus state portfolio to ensure that financial results are optimized for investors.
 
Steve’s history with ACC goes back more than ten years to when, as a tax professional in Deloitte’s Houston office, he first prepared the company’s 2005 income tax returns.  Upon ACC’s booming growth in the few years that followed, culminating with the public merger with GMH in 2008, Steve joined ACC full time in 2009.  Prior to joining ACC, Steve spent eight and a half years with Deloitte Tax LLP’s Houston office, where he primarily served REITs and private real estate clients.           
 
Steve is a licensed CPA and active board member of the Boys & Girls Club of Georgetown.  
 

Clint Braun

SVP, On-Campus Development Management

Texas A&M University
B.S., Construction Science
 
First student housing experience: Suite-style athletic dorm. There were lots of activities and not much sleep! ACC later built a new res hall right next to the old dorm.
 
Favorite thing about college: I was the first in my family to graduate college, while working full time (finished in 4.5 years). Also, A&M beat UT every year that I was in school. Whoop!

Clint is responsible for development and project management within our P3 (public private partnership) division. His role includes the oversight of all pre-development and development activities, including design, scheduling, budgeting, procurement, construction, and all other aspects of placing assets into service.
 
In 2000, Clint joined American Campus Communities as a project manager. Since that time, he has spearheaded more than 50 projects and supervised the successful completion of more than 30,000 beds and $1.5 billion in development costs, all on time and within the approved budgets. Clint is a LEED® Accredited Professional and has participated at the highest level in the delivery of ACC’s approximately 20 LEED-certified communities, including seven LEED Silver and four LEED Gold projects.

He has also taken the lead in a number of ACC’s largest projects, including two projects with a development value of more than $200 million and approximately eight projects with development values above $100 million. To date, Clint’s two largest and most complex projects are Camino del Sol and Vista del Campo at the University of California, Irvine ($220.9 million, 1,763 beds) and Homeport Hampton Roads for the U.S. Navy ($336.0 million, 3,682 beds).
 
Before joining ACC, Clint held various construction management positions with private real estate developer JPI from 1996 to 2000. 
 

Noel Brinkman

SVP, Public/Private Partnerships

Texas State University, San Marcos
B.B.A., Marketing and Finance, Summa Cum Laude
 
First student housing experience: Falls Hall – a 1966 traditional residence hall. It was later demolished and replaced in 2012.
 
Best college-themed movie/TV show: Rudy
 
Favorite thing about college: The experiences shared with friends and fellow Delta Chi fraternity members.

Noel and his team drive American Campus Communities’ business development efforts under the P3 (public private partnership) model. All told, he has participated in the awarding of roughly $2.1 billion (31,500 beds) in student housing for both public and private universities, with single projects ranging in size from $7.5 million to more than $350 million.
 
One of Noel’s key responsibilities involves helping university leaders determine whether privatization and the subsequent procurement processes are a viable alternative to a more traditional student housing approach. Ultimately, Noel works to demonstrate how these institutions can utilize the private sector to deliver the types of housing that today’s student consumers demand, efficiently and much more cost-effectively – for both the university and the future residents.
 
In his 15+ years with ACC, Noel has served in a variety of capacities – including market analyst, director of development, and VP of on-campus development. He is an active participant in numerous industry conferences, such as NACUBO, ACUHO-I, SCUP, AOA and NACAS.
 
Outside of his work, Noel is busy with his four children and an active member of the local area Boy Scouts board. 

Steve Crawford

SVP, P3

The University of California at Santa Barbara
B.S., Geography  
San Diego State University, M.A., Public Administration  
Former Resident Assistant  

First student housing experience: Private residence hall – on a wonderful floor of 66 people with a fantastic sense of community.

Best college-themed movie/TV show: Good Will Hunting

Most people don't know: I have landed in an airplane on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier

Favorite thing about college: I went to UC Santa Barbara. It’s hard to beat having the beach on your doorstep!

Steve spearheads American Campus Communities’ third-party management division, recognized as the nation’s premier student housing manager. Currently, he oversees 51 managed communities and more than 39,000 beds. Steve’s responsibilities include procurement of third-party management contracts as well as supervising business operations, facilities maintenance, marketing and leasing, residence life and student development, and staffing for ACC-managed communities.
 
However, his primary mission is to deliver the optimal living-learning experience for our student residents, while exceeding the standards and overall goals of our client institutions.
 
More than 25 years ago, Steve began his career in student housing as a Resident Assistant and ultimately Residential Life Director at a privately owned residence hall near UC Santa Barbara.
 
Steve originally planned to fly F-15s in the Air Force. However, poor vision and the end of the Cold War made that dream less likely, so Steve ultimately chose what he calls “the world’s second most exciting profession” – student housing! After graduation, he continued his career at El Conquistador near San Diego State University, and later at Granville Towers, a premier community of more than 1,400 students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Daniel Crownover

SVP, Portfolio Management
Texas A&M University
B.B.A., Finance
Master of Land Economics and Real Estate

First student housing experience: I lived at The Callaway House in my first year at Texas A&M, where I learned first-hand the benefits of living at a property with close proximity to the university.  I was able to land an internship with ACC while in grad school, giving me my first exposure to student housing from the business side.
 
Most memorable college experience: Being a part of a local charity organization that put on a massive outdoor country music concert each year.  And the memory of losing 77-0 to Oklahoma has never quite left me.
 
Favorite thing about college: Learning how to manage a schedule – academics, road trips with friends, and game day weekends for football!
 
Something most people don't know: Cooking is my favorite hobby.  While I was in school, I constantly watched the Food Network while living in the ΣΑΕ house.
 
Favorite college-themed movie: Revenge of the Nerds
 

Dan is responsible for all aspects of ACC’s financial planning and analysis efforts, overseeing the company’s owned-portfolio forecasts as well as the development of the company’s enterprise- financial planning software system.  Involved in providing strategic oversight on the annual lease-up process, property renovations, dispositions and the coordination of Business Intelligence and Market Research initiatives, Dan ensures the successful execution of the company’s portfolio initiatives. Dan joined ACC’s Investments department as a Director in 2012, where he assisted in underwriting and closing ACC’s two portfolio acquisitions that same year.
 
Prior to ACC, Dan served as an associate at Hawkeye Partners, an Austin-based real estate private equity firm focused on launching first-time investment management programs. He started his career in New York, working for Citigroup’s Real Estate Investment Banking division, where he advised REIT and lodging companies on M&A and capital raising activities.
 

Emily DeHaven

SVP, Regional
East Carolina University
B.A. English
M. A. English

First student housing experience: Moving into Aycock Hall on College Hill at East Carolina University. I was excited, but so scared at the same time. I instantly connected with everyone on my hall and we became a pretty close group of friends. I still talk to some of them today!

Most memorable college experience: Being President of my sorority. It was my first big leadership role and taught me a lot of skills and lessons I use in my job at American Campus Communities.  

Favorite thing about college: Meeting so many people from different walks of life. I loved listening to their stories and making personal connections that have turned out to be professional connections post-college.

Something most people don't know: I’m a Girl Scout.

Favorite college-themed movie: We Are Marshall.
 

As a Senior Regional Vice President, Emily oversees 14 of ACC’s markets, comprising more than 20,000 student beds. She also assists in the disposition process, helping the company to dispose of assets that do not meet ACC’s core investment criteria. Throughout her time with the company, Emily has assisted in the disposition of 12 assets. Emily also specializes in employee development and marketing and leasing.
 
Emily began her career with ACC in 2008, and has worked in increasing positions from Area Manager to Regional Vice President, to her current role as Senior Regional Vice President. Before joining ACC, Emily worked in various positions in the student housing industry including Leasing Manager and General Manager.
 
Outside of work, Emily serves as a Network Director for Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity as well as on the board for the Student Affairs Advancement Council at East Carolina University. She enjoys traveling to see friends/family and hanging out with her dogs, Sophie and Murphy. 
 

Ryan Dennison

SVP, Capital Markets and Investor Relations

Texas A&M University
B.A. Accounting
M.S. Finance

First student housing experience: Hotard Hall as a freshman at Texas A&M. The dorm was built in 1939 to house food service workers for the campus cafeteria, transitioning to student housing in the 1950’s. I lived with 5 roommates in the television lounge my first semester due to a lack of on-campus housing. While we had a great time, 6 guys in a TV lounge makes it difficult to focus on academics! 

Most memorable college experience: Honestly it was trying to find my dorm on move-in day. I had never seen the dorm before driving myself to college, so I spent about 30 minutes trying to navigate campus with students and parents everywhere. Once I finally located the tiny brick building where I’d live my first year, I thought “seriously….this is it???”

Favorite thing about college: With my closest family over 800 miles away, I loved the thrill of knowing I was on my own and having the freedom and responsibility to make life choices.

Something most people don't know: David Robinson, formerly of the San Antonio Spurs, nearly ruined my career.

Favorite college-themed movie: The Program 
 

Ryan is responsible for the development and implementation of capital market strategies, managing bank group relationships, sourcing capital for growth activities, serving as a primary point of contact with equity and fixed income investors and research analysts, and managing investor communications. He joined ACC in April 2013 as vice president of investor relations, and in 2014 increased his responsibilities to include corporate finance and capital markets.
 
During his tenure, Ryan has assisted with the sourcing of approximately $3 billion in debt or equity and has overseen an expansion of sell-side research coverage to eighteen institutions.
 
Prior to joining the ACC team, Ryan served as the corporate treasurer and director of financial planning and analysis at Thermon Group, Inc. where he assisted with the company’s successful initial public offering in 2011. Ryan began his career as an auditor with Ernst & Young LLP in Austin, Texas where he served in increasing capacities from 2000 until 2010, focusing his efforts auditing public companies. Ryan is a licensed CPA and also enjoys participating in charitable activities, serving as a Board member of the Center for Child Protection.
 

Meredith Elliott

SVP, Strategic Programs

The University of Georgia
B.S., Psychology  
Former ACC Community Assistant
Inside Track

First student housing experience: Lived in Russell Hall, which was built in 1967 and housed almost 1,000 co-ed students. I shared a bathroom with 30 other girls and a room with someone I’d never met.
 
Best college-themed movie/TV show: Saved by the Bell – The College Years. The nine months it lasted were amazing.
 
Most people don't know: I have 1 dog, 3 cats, 4 chickens, 5 goldfish and 1 beehive.
 
Favorite thing about college: The personal growth. The environment and my experiences allowed me to develop my values, passions and goals.

As SVP, Strategic Programs, Meredith leads the Product Management, Program Management, and Quality Assurance teams to align ACC’s technology investments with strategic objectives and deliver value. She oversees the governance process of technology initiatives, which enables our team to deliver valuable products and services that provide improved quality, consistency, and performance to our corporate and property-level users.
 
Meredith’s team monitors our software and applications to ensure adaptability to changing environments and needs, providing a competitive advantage to the organization. She is also responsible for overseeing the implementation of any new technology initiative and ensuring that our people, products, strategies and processes remain in alignment through completion.
 
Meredith has been with the company since her days as a CA while attending The University of Georgia. Shortly after graduating, she accepted her first full-time job with the company and has held a variety of property-level and corporate positions ever since, including her previous role as SVP of Leasing, Market Research and BI.

Larry Greenberg

SVP, Operations

The University of Central Florida
B.B.A., Management
Former ACC Community Assistant
 
First student housing experience: I lived in three different student housing developments while attending The University of Central Florida. Each of these projects were later acquired by ACC, so I was able to use my experience as a resident to effectively manage these assets when I started my career with ACC.
 
Best college-themed movie/TV show: Old School
 
Favorite thing about college: Meeting new friends and sharing an incredible time with them – plus the beginning of a very challenging, successful career!

Larry oversees all of American Campus Communities’ owned property operations, including our ACE projects. Larry’s responsibilities include business operations, facilities maintenance, marketing and leasing, residence life, student development, staffing, and support for all regional managers and field community staff in his portfolio.
 
He also oversees the development of annual property and strategic plans, implementation of our annual lease up, and coordination of turn.
 
In 2000, Larry began his ACC career as a Community Assistant while attending The University of Central Florida. It’s safe to say Larry knows how to manage every aspect of our communities—because he’s done it personally. He has served in various management and leasing capacities at the property, area, regional, and corporate level.

Stacey Heller

SVP, Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk Management
Texas A&M University
B.B.A. Accounting and M.S. Accounting


First student housing experience: Mosher Hall, a standard, cinderblock on-campus dorm. There were zero amenities, but I was so excited to only have to share a bathroom with three other girls! At the time, it was a huge luxury. 

Favorite thing about college: The freedom to explore and learn. The opportunities and the encouragement to create and discover! 

Favorite college-themed movie: Old School

Stacey oversees ACC’s Internal Audit department, which is critically responsible for protecting our internal control over financial reporting.  Stacey’s team helps to ensure procedures are in place to minimize fraud both at the corporate level and throughout ACC’s portfolio, spanning over 96 campuses across the country. The Internal Audit department also protects ACC from regulatory non-compliance penalties. 
 
Stacey also strategically leads in the areas of compliance, security, and overall enterprise risk management. Stacey reports to the Audit Committee and the Risk Committee of the Board of Directors.
 

Prior to joining the American Campus team, Stacey worked for Ernst & Young, where she participated as a senior auditor during the initial public offering of American Campus Communities. Since beginning her career at Ernst & Young in 2000, Stacey has gained valuable experience auditing Public Companies of all sizes. In 2009, after 7 years in the Austin and San Antonio offices of Ernst & Young and 2 years at Freescale (now NXP), Stacey joined the American Campus Communities team.

Stacey is a licensed CPA and enjoys giving back to the community through various charitable organizations. 

James Henson

SVP, Regional

The University of Texas at Austin
Economics
 
First student housing experience: I moved into Jester Hall for my freshman year at The University of Texas at Austin.  Standard shared room with community bathrooms down the hall.  Met a lot of great people and will never forget the camaraderie we had on our floor.

Most memorable college experience: Meeting many great friends, several of which are still some of my best friends to this day.

Favorite thing about college Watching Longhorn sports, especially football!

Something most people don't know: I love to play the guitar.

Favorite college-themed movie: 30 for 30 Survive and Advance
 
 

Jimmy started working in the student housing industry as a Community Assistant while attending The University of Texas at Austin. In 2004, Jimmy joined American Campus as a General Manager in Fresno, California to open University Village. 
 
Jimmy later came home to Texas to be a General Manager and Area Manager, before being promoted to Regional Manager in 2008. Since 2008, Jimmy has overseen communities as far apart as North Carolina to the California coast as both a Regional and Regional Vice President. 
 

Jennifer Jones Walker

SVP, Transactions

The University of Texas at Austin
B.B.A., Finance
 
First student housing experience: Typical cinder-block on-campus residence hall (only lasted one semester in the dorm).
 
Favorite college-themed movie/TV show: Good Will Hunting
 
Favorite thing about college: Football season! Go Horns!

Jen is considered one of the nation’s foremost experts in student housing transaction structure and finance. She is primarily focused on negotiating, financing, and closing all P3 (public private partnership) projects at American Campus Communities. Drawing upon her deep expertise, Jen helps our college and university clients evaluate the different options that are available to them, and ultimately identify the transaction structure and form of finance that best meets their needs.
 
She has been involved in the negotiation and closing of more than $3.5 billion of P3 transactions – including project-based 501(c)3 transactions, conventional lease hold mortgages, ACC equity ownership transactions, and university general obligation bonds.
 
She began her career in commercial banking at Texas Commerce Bank and JPMorgan Chase, making construction loans for student-housing projects – including ACC communities. Jen joined our team in 2002. Over the past 13 years, she has spearheaded the financial structuring process and successful closing for virtually all of ACC’s on-campus 501(c)3 transactions, as well as 21 ACE® transactions.
 
Jen is an active board member for LifeWorks Youth & Family Alliance.

Kimberly Kelley

SVP, Leasing and Marketing

Texas A&M University
B.B.A., Marketing
Former ACC Community Assistant
 
First student housing experience: Private dorm that used to be an old hotel! It was me, my roomie, and our matching plaid comforters, with walls covered in old Abercrombie catalogs…
 
Most people don't know: I performed live in Carnegie Hall with my high school choir!
 
Favorite thing about college: Realizing that I was 100% in control of my success or failure in everything. After a tough first semester, I started actually going to class and studying. I ultimately graduated early with honors – while working full-time in my future career. You can do anything if you put your mind to it.

Kimmy is charged with overseeing all aspects of the leasing administration process and marketing activities for all American Campus communities.
 
Kimmy’s team of Leasing and Marketing Directors use LAMS to make strategic decisions based on proprietary data – leveraging its powerful reporting and analytics to evaluate key metrics such as traffic flow, closing ratios, application-to-lease conversion rates, the effectiveness of various marketing media, and competitive and historical leading trends.
 
Her complex role also encompasses strategic planning, public-facing marketing operations, budget analysis, internal departmental marketing, and our in-house creative and production services. Kimmy’s talented and highly professional team empowers ACC to implement real-time communications strategies for our communities across multiple media. Together, they keep everything on brand, on time, and on budget.
 
As a former Community Assistant, Kimmy first joined ACC in 2001 while attending Texas A&M University. She came on board full-time after graduation, and has served in increasing capacities in leasing administration and, ultimately, community marketing. 

Kris Kelley

SVP, Acquisitions

Texas A&M University
B.A., History
Former ACC Community Assistant
 
First student housing experience: 1940s-era 10x14 dorm room – three guys to a room, with two bathrooms down the hall (shared by 60 residents).
 
Favorite thing about college: The camaraderie. Many of my best friendships were formed during my college experience.

Favorite college-themed TV show/movie: Rudy
 
Most people don't know: I am left-handed. 
 

Kris is responsible for sourcing, negotiating, and transacting all aspects of American Campus Communities’ acquisitions platform. This includes initial feasibility and diligence, contract negotiation, maintaining owner and broker relations, and financial underwriting. In the past five years, Kris has been involved in transactions totaling more than $2.5 billion of student housing product – including single-asset acquisitions, mezzanine-financed pre-sales, joint ventures, and portfolio acquisitions.
 
Back in 2001, Kris joined ACC as a Community Assistant at Callaway House College Station. Over the past 15 years, he has served in increasing capacities in operations, asset management and investments. Kris currently holds a Texas Broker’s License as well as CCIM accreditation.

Heather Laney

SVP, Asset Management

Texas State University, San Marcos
B.S. Biology
Minor Chemistry
M.B.A. 

First student housing experience: Woman's Residence Tower - an all-girl, suite-style, cinderblock accommodation with one window the size of a pizza box. There were lots of other funny unofficial "names" for this building. Even so, I grew up here - learned a lot and gained a ton of new friendships. 

Most memorable college experience: Too many to count! I enjoyed both the successes and the hard lessons learned. 

Favorite thing about college: The ability to be spontaneous and the freedom to grow personally and professionally. These years shape you into who you are to become. 

Something most people don't know: My sophomore year in college I became an EMT. 

Favorite college-themed movie: Old School
 

Heather oversees American Campus Communities’ asset management platform, including margin enhancing and expense initiatives, development standards, retail leasing and management, renovations and repositioning activities, national purchasing agreements, FF&E and signage coordination, and contract services activities.   Heather has been instrumental in ACC’s success through repositioning and stabilizing efforts, creating value-add opportunities. In the last five years alone, ACC as spent approximately $131.5 million in various level renovations on 52 properties. The value created has come in the form of occupancy growth, rental rate growth and overall value enhancement.
 
Heather’s entire professional career since receiving her undergraduate and graduate degrees from Texas State University has been with American Campus Communities.  Throughout her career, Heather has played key roles in investments, business development, project management and asset management for ACC.  Heather’s diverse experience and partnering approach help her and the asset management team assist the entire ACC team to drive evolution and optimize operating results for investors.
 

Jeff Langen

SVP, Regional

The University of Texas at Austin
B.A., Economics
 
First student housing experience: I lived in Dobie Center, a private residence hall. I met a lot of people that I’m still in touch with today, and learned how to communicate and be comfortable being myself. And next year, I will likely have two kids at The University of Texas, both living in American Campus communities.
 
Best college-themed TV show/movie: Rudy
 
Most people don't know: I am an Eagle Scout.
 
Favorite thing about college: I met my wife the day I moved into my dorm. I tell people that I had one good day —that’s all it took. My parents were really glad I met her when I did.

Jeff oversees management services for 50 percent of American Campus Communities’ owned and ACE® properties. He holds ultimate financial and corporate responsibility for 67 properties, totaling more than 42,000 beds and representing roughly $334 million in total revenue.
 
Jeff’s role encompasses business operations, facilities maintenance, marketing and leasing, residence life, student development, staffing, and support for all regional managers and field community staff in his portfolio. He also oversees the development of annual property and strategic plans, implementation of our annual lease up, and coordination of terms.
 
Jeff’s student housing career began in 1991, working as a Resident Assistant at Dobie Center while attending The University of Texas at Austin. He was later promoted to resident director of the 990-bed privately owned residence hall, where he first met ACC CEO Bill Bayless in the early days of our company.
 
 
After graduation, Jeff held multiple management positions with Century Property Management Company (CPMC). He joined our team in 1996 as general manager for our Southgate community at Florida State University, remaining with the property for a few years when the management contract changed. Jeff later rejoined ACC as regional manager in 2002 and has held increasing responsibilities ever since.

Lonnie Ledbetter

SVP, Human Resources, Organizational Development and Culture

The University of Texas at Austin
B.A., Economics

First student housing experience: Moving into a residence hall that had very industrial metal furniture and sharing a bathroom with 30 other college freshman girls. I was shocked to learn that I did not have a curfew!

Most memorable college experience: On the first night of my freshman year, the RA staff held a hall meeting for all the residents to get to know one another. The RA staff was so welcoming and made sure we were all comfortable. I decided that night that I wanted to be an RA. the following year, I became an RA and started my career in student housing. 

Favorite thing about college: Football season, the RA staffs that I was a part of, and the friendships I made. 

Most people don't know: I am obsessed with Sudoku puzzles. They are a great stress reliever. 

Favorite college-themed movie: Road Trip

Lonnie is the SVP of Organizational Development & Culture, overseeing employee development, recruiting, training, residence life, health and wellness, and culture.

Lonnie spearheads our employee development department. ACC is committed to providing team members at all levels of the organization with the training, support, and learning opportunities they need to be successful. Additionally, Lonnie is responsible for ACC’s residence life program, which fosters the academic success and well-being of our student residents. Our programming centers around the development of three core skillsets –interpersonal, life management, and academic success.

Lonnie also oversees the ACC health and wellness program, which aims to provide ACC employees with informational resources, external affiliations and internal company programs that focus on fitness, nutrition and lifestyle.

During her time at ACC, Lonnie designed and implemented our InsideTrack conference, which offers career development for community-level team members interesting in becoming general managers. The curriculums delivered in an intensive three-day training program at the ACC corporate office, and a  6 month long mentoring program emphasizing residence life, human resource management, business operations, marketing and leasing, facilities, and career development. From 2003 to 2015, InsideTrack had 298 graduates, and five InsideTrack graduates are now Executive or Senior Vice Presidents at ACC.

Since Lonnie began her career as a Resident Assistant, she has gained invaluable experience in student and multifamily housing in her roles with private real estate developer JPI and with ACC as a leasing consultant, director of business development, VP of training and VP of organizational development. Lonnie is a CPLP, and her experience and leadership have played a critical role in the growth and internal development of ACC. 

Laura Mack

SVP, Property Controller
Austin College
B.A. Business
Emphasis in Accounting
CPA

First Student Housing Experience: Moving into Dean Hall, the only co-ed dorm. My mother didn’t know this until move-in day!
 
Most memorable college experience: Jan Term! For the month of January we could take one class in a subject that we are interested in outside of our major. My favorite Jan Terms were studying Spanish in Oaxaca and Painting.

Favorite thing about college: I made the best friends of my life at Austin College.


Something most people don’t know: I minored in Spanish.


Favorite college themed movie: Animal House
 

As SVP Property Controller, Laura oversees property accounting. Her team manages general property accounting, accounts payable and corporate budgeting and forecasting at American Campus Communities. Laura joined ACC in 2013 as Director of Accounting.
 
Prior to joining ACC, Laura worked in a variety of positions within the real estate industry, including real estate companies Trammell Crow Residential and Sunrise Senior Living. Laura received her Bachelor’s degree in business with a focus on accounting from Austin College, and is also a CPA.
 

Jake Newman

SVP, Development

The University of Louisiana at Monroe
B.S., Construction Management
 
First student housing experience: Townhome with two other fraternity brothers. Simple, not fancy – and not really clean!
 
Best college-themed movie/TV show: Old School
 
Favorite thing about college: The friendships I made and the small town environment of Monroe, LA.

Jake is responsible for all real estate development for the company, including both on and off campus opportunities. This includes market and team selection, initial site selection and diligence, land procurement, contract negotiation, university and governmental relations, development approach, municipal approvals, financial underwriting and construction and delivery of off campus development and renovation projects.
 
In his sixteen years with American Campus Communities, Jake has overseen the successful entitlement, commencement and completion of 35 projects and over 21,000 beds, valuing more than $1.5 billion in development costs. He joined ACC in 2002 and has held the positions of director of construction management, vice president of construction management and vice president of development. In total, Jake has more than 20 years of experience in the real estate development industry, including student housing and multi-family sectors. He began his career with JPI Development, holding several different positions during his four-year tenure.

Ron Weaver

SVP, Human Resources Compliance

Lock Haven University
BS, Secondary Education
 
First student housing experience: Typical cinder-block on-campus residence hall – didn’t have to buy my own stereo, thanks to the loud guy 12 doors down.
 
Favorite college movie: Animal House
 
Favorite thing about college: The freedom, which helped me define who I was and who I wanted to be, plus all the counseling, coaching, and support from professors and fellow students. 

Ron heads up American Campus Communities’ world-class HR department. His responsibilities include regulatory compliance, compensation, employee benefits, and talent development for our diverse and distributed workforce – which ranges from college-student Community Assistants to senior leadership.
  
In 2007, we brought Ron in to build our HR department from the ground up. In his first year with the company, ACC more than doubled in size, from roughly 1,200 employees to 2,400. Drawing upon nearly thirty years of experience, Ron masterfully cultivated a dynamic HR department that is now a strategic advantage for our entire organization.
 
Prior to joining our team, Ron held numerous positions in all aspects of human resources, largely in banking but most recently at Southern Union Company in Houston. Ron’s role at ACC is the perfect synthesis of his experience and personal strengths – bringing together his interest in building (he has designed and constructed his own home), his background in secondary education, his HR expertise and people skills, and his lifelong love of learning. 

Angela Testa

SVP, Regional
University of Central Florida
Bachelor of Arts in Advertising-Public Relations
Inside Track 
 
 
First student housing experience: I moved into a suite style residence hall Freshman year with one other female and a shared bathroom with two other females. It was no frills, but a great location on campus!

Most memorable college experience: Leaving home and surviving. Moving from New Jersey to Florida at 17 and knowing no one was terrifying, but surviving was the most satisfying feeling. I will never forget that feeling.

Favorite thing about college: Meeting lifelong friends. I met my best friend during orientation and we have been best friends ever since! 

Something most people don't know: In high school, I traveled across the country competing in dance competitions with my dance team. We were even once recognized and featured in Dance Spirit Magazine.

Favorite college-themed movie: Old School
 

Angela is charged with ensuring successful operations of a large portfolio of American Campus communities Angela is responsible for overseeing all facilities, financials, marketing, leasing, resident life and staffing for 35 communities – more than 25,300 beds.
 
Angela began her career with American Campus Communities as a Community Assistant while attending the University of Central Florida. Since joining ACC, Angela has served in a variety of property and corporate positions, including Leasing Manager, Assistant General Manager, General Manager, Area Manager over Newark and Philadelphia, Regional Manager and Regional Vice President.
 
Outside of work, Angela enjoys relaxing with her two young girls, two dogs, and husband.
 

Jason Wills

Chief Marketing Officer

The University of Texas at Arlington,
Journalism and Marketing
 
First student housing experience: I lived in Brazos House for about three semesters. We had pipes running through our rooms that worked for drying laundry as well as communication. You could bang on the pipes to tell people down the hall you were ready to hang out. It was a terrible place and I had a wonderful time.
 
Favorite college movie: Road Trip and Animal House
 
Favorite thing about college: I lived on campus the entire time and was very involved – president of Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, editor of the Short Horn student newspaper, an RA and a Student Ambassador. It all gave me a wonderful student experience with friendships and connections that exist to this day. Nobody out there believes in the benefits of student involvement and on-campus life more than I do. 

Jason is responsible for all aspects of American Campus Communities’ on-campus development projects – including market analysis, project feasibility, design, team oversight, and managing relationships with our college or university partners.
 
Every university has a unique vision for the student experience. Jason works closely with our partners to customize housing solutions that best serve the student body as well as the university’s mission and values, architectural design standards, financial goals, and operational needs. To date, Jason has spearheaded 64 projects totaling nearly $3.2 billion in development value – including 17 of our 25 largest projects.
 
Throughout his career, Jason has worked in every functional aspect of student housing – beginning as a Resident Assistant and marketing coordinator with Century Development. One of ACC’s longest-tenured employees, he joined the company in 1997 as a Marketing and Leasing Manager. Over the years, Jason’s role expanded into business development, corporate marketing, and development oversight. Most recently, he served as SVP of Marketing and Development.
 
Jason was deeply involved in the genesis of the 21st Century Project, a groundbreaking initiative of the Association of College and University Housing Officers-International (ACUHO-I). Working with fellow members of the ACUHO-I Foundation Board, Jason helped envision the student housing of the future and outlined the planning principles that are transforming our industry. Under Jason’s leadership, ACC has combined these principles with our experience and operational expertise, resulting in on-campus developments that fully support and enhance the academic experience of today’s university students.
 
Outside of work, Jason is a big supporter of the arts and serves on the board of Ballet Austin. 

Brian Winger

General Counsel
Oklahoma Christian University
B.S., History/Pre-law
Oklahoma City University, J.D.
 
First student housing experience:  Sub-leasing my brother’s off-campus apartment.             
 
Favorite thing about college: It was a lot of fun and productive at the same time. 

Brian is primarily responsible for negotiating and structuring complicated transactions and managing significant litigation matters. He joined American Campus Communities in 2000 as director of off-campus development and has since served in increasing capacities. During his eighteen years at American Campus, Brian has been involved in countless transactions that have a combined worth of billions of dollars.

Previously, Brian was the chief operating officer with Aspen Gold Development Company, a private real-estate developer. He also held the position of general counsel for Oklahoma Christian University. Brian is a licensed attorney in Oklahoma.