Edwin Munoz, an MBA candidate at Cal State Fullerton’s College of Business and Economics concentrating in Finance and Real Estate, is the recipient of the Ferguson Charitable Foundation Scholarship, a $10,000 award given to only 38 students nationwide from 19 schools, with a selection rate of only 13.6%.

Based on academic performance, financial need and interest in real estate as a career path, the achievement also offers opportunities for individualized leadership skills coaching and career planning.

“Receiving this $10,000 scholarship is both an extraordinary honor and a meaningful investment in my future. As a first-generation college graduate balancing full-time employment while independently funding my graduate education, this support provides tremendous financial relief and allows me to focus more fully on my academic and professional development,” he says.

Munoz began his Cal State Fullerton journey by completing an undergraduate degree in political science in 2024, and then went on to pursue his MBA. He is actively involved in the Real Estate Association club and the business college’s Executive in Residence program, as well as the Ferguson Centers for Leadership Excellence and the Institute of Real Estate Management. He is also the recipient of the California Association of Realtors Bill Anderson Memorial Scholarship and Cal State Fullerton’s Graduate Equity Scholarship.

Currently, Munoz is an operations associate with Irvine Company Office Properties, which provides him with applied experience in commercial property operations, customer service, vendor management, building systems, risk awareness and collaboration with other teams covering functions from engineering to risk management.

“I hope to grow into an institutional real estate leadership role where I can help organizations manage risk, make sound investment and operating decisions, and create developments that generate lasting economic and community value,” he says. “I am particularly interested in how responsible real estate investment can expand housing opportunities, support underserved communities and contribute to generational wealth.”

Jia Xie, associate professor of finance and academic director of the Center for Real Estate, recognizes that Munoz, the latest Titan to receive the Ferguson award, testifies to the strength of the CSUF program.

“Edwin’s selection is a testament to both his outstanding achievements and the strength of Cal State Fullerton’s Real Estate program,” explains Xie. “We are proud to see our students recognized on a national stage for their leadership, academic excellence and commitment to the real estate profession.”