Announcement of the Retirement of Jeff Graham, Executive Director of Real Estate, and Upcoming Nationwide Search

It is with profound gratitude and deep admiration that I announce the retirement of Jeff Graham, executive director of Real Estate, effective December 31, 2026.

Since joining UC San Diego in 2015, Graham has been the driving force behind some of the most consequential real estate achievements in UC San Diego's history. Under his leadership, the Real Estate department grew from a transactional function into a sophisticated, high-performing enterprise — one that generates hundreds of millions of dollars in value, shapes the physical future of our campus, and directly advances the university's mission in research, health, education, and community engagement.

Among Graham's most enduring contributions:

Transforming the Campus Retail Experience — Graham reimagined what campus retail could be for students, staff, and faculty. He led the attraction and leasing of dozens of high-quality restaurants and retailers across campus, including Dora Ristorante, the award-winning signature restaurant at Theatre District, an Amazon Fulfilment Center, and many new dining experiences across the campus. He also commissioned a campus-wide retail study and introduced new wayfinding and visitor parking programs to support retail businesses. The result is a vibrant, convenient campus environment that thousands of Tritons enjoy every day.
Bringing Target to Campus — One of the most visible and beloved additions to campus life, the Target lease was personally negotiated and executed by Graham — delivering transformational retail convenience for the entire UC San Diego community.
Expanding UC San Diego Health's Footprint — Graham's contributions to UC San Diego Health span more than a decade of strategic land assembly, acquisition, and partnership. He led the successful acquisition of multiple parcels in Hillcrest to assemble a site large enough to support the new hospital and McGrath Outpatient Pavilion, a transformational expansion of Health's presence in one of San Diego's most vital communities. He also secured the land for the Rancho Bernardo Health Center (RBHC), a state-of-the-art medical facility that will break ground later this year to serve the North County inland population, and led the acquisition of Alvarado Hospital, significantly expanding UC San Diego Health's capacity to deliver care to east San Diego residents. Together, these accomplishments reflect a sustained, strategic commitment to growing UC San Diego Health's ability to serve patients across the entire San Diego region.
Park & Market — Graham secured the acquisition of the Park & Market building in downtown San Diego, creating a transformational innovation and cultural hub for UC San Diego’s Division of Extended Studies.
Investment Properties Portfolio — Through disciplined asset management, strategic leasing, and a relentless focus on performance, Graham grew and sustained occupancy across the university's off-campus investment properties.
Center for Novel Therapeutics — Graham played an instrumental role in the real estate partnership that brought the Center for Novel Therapeutics (CNT) to life, a $92 million, 137,500-square-foot facility in UC San Diego's Science Research Park, developed in partnership with BioMed Realty. The CNT is the only academic-industry drug discovery incubator in San Diego designed to accelerate cancer research from lab bench to clinical trials and ultimately to market. Located within walking distance of Jacobs Medical Center and Moores Cancer Center, the CNT exemplifies the kind of bold, forward-thinking public-private partnership that defines UC San Diego's approach to life sciences innovation.
Torrey Pines Fire Station — Graham successfully negotiated with the City of San Diego for the construction and long-term operations the new Torrey Pines Fire Station, providing meaningful safety and emergency response capabilities for our entire campus community and surrounding areas.
Release of Federal and City Use Restrictions — Following years of complex negotiations with both the U.S. Department of the Navy and the City of San Diego, Graham secured the release of longstanding land use restrictions from more than 440 acres of campus land — providing the university with full autonomy over its property for the first time in decades and unlocking enormous potential for future development.

Beyond these flagship accomplishments, Graham oversaw hundreds of lease, license, and easement transactions; championed retail transformation across campus; and pioneered automation and technology integration across Real Estate operations. His teams across every year of his tenure described him as an incredible people leader who invested in their development and created a culture of accountability and pride.

Please join me in expressing our deepest appreciation for Graham's remarkable contributions to UC San Diego. I encourage you to reach out to him directly to thank him for his many years of dedicated and exceptional service.

Nationwide Search for the Next Executive Director of Real Estate

To ensure a strong and seamless transition, I will be launching a nationwide search for the next Executive Director of Real Estate with the assistance of the search firm, Jackson Lucas. The search will be guided by a commitment to identifying a visionary leader who can build on Graham's extraordinary legacy and continue advancing the university's real estate and public-private partnerships strategies at this exciting moment in our campus's growth. More details about the search committee, timeline, and ways to apply will be shared soon.

Lawrence J. Furnstahl
Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration

University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093