Economist Kevin Gillen Joins Henderson Real Estate Institute as Inaugural Principal Research Fellow
The Wilbur C. Henderson Real Estate Institute (HREI) at the LeBow College of Business announces the promotion of Kevin C. Gillen, PhD, to the position of Principal Research Fellow. Gillen becomes the first individual to hold this distinguished title at the Institute.
Gillen’s promotion marks a significant expansion of the Henderson Institute’s research capabilities. Following an active 12-year tenure as a Senior Research Fellow with Drexel’s Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation, Gillen will now bring his extensive portfolio of market analysis and applied work to LeBow and HREI.
Central to his new role, Gillen will continue to produce and publish his highly anticipated quarterly housing reports. These reports, which provide a definitive measure of the health and trajectory of the Philadelphia region’s housing market, have become an essential resource for industry leaders, policymakers and media outlets.
“Kevin’s appointment as our first Principal Research Fellow is a milestone for the Henderson Institute,” says Carter Murdoch, PhD, HREI executive director. “By housing his influential quarterly reports within LeBow, we are strengthening our position as the region’s primary hub for real estate intelligence and thought leadership.”
“The Philadelphia region deserves a singular, data-driven ‘command center’ for real estate intelligence, and that is exactly what Dr. Murdoch and LeBow are building at the Henderson Institute,” Gillen said. “Allowing me to bring my quarterly housing reports and research to Henderson is a natural evolution that allows us to move beyond mere observation and into true thought leadership. I’m eager to get to work ensuring the Institute becomes the first and last word on the economic health—and direction—of our region’s real estate market and built environment.”
During his 12 years at the Lindy Institute, Gillen established himself as one of the region’s most frequently cited economists. His work is frequently featured in major publications and serves as a critical tool for understanding urban economic trends. In his new capacity, he will bridge academic research with real-world application, further elevating the Henderson Institute’s mission.
Gillen is an expert in urban economics, real estate finance and public policy. He holds a PhD from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a BA in economics from Canisius College. He also matriculated as a visiting student at Cambridge University, where he studied the economics of the European Union.
