Shawn Moura, Ph.D., has been named executive director for the NAIOP Research Foundation.

Moura previously served as vice president and will continue to lead the work of the NAIOP Research Foundation, partnering closely with the Foundation’s board of trustees and governors to identify emerging trends and deliver timely, actionable insights on the challenges and opportunities shaping the commercial real estate industry.

“Shawn’s appointment reflects both continuity and momentum for the Research Foundation,” said NAIOP President and CEO Marc Selvitelli, CAE. “He brings a deep understanding of our industry and the research expertise needed to keep the Foundation at the forefront of the issues critical to the commercial real estate development industry. I’m confident the Foundation will continue to thrive and deliver meaningful value under his leadership.”

Moura has 16 years of combined experience in industry research, market research and academic research. Since he joined NAIOP in 2019, he has managed the NAIOP Research Foundation's portfolio of recurring and topical research projects, has authored and coauthored selected reports and has overseen the Foundation's Distinguished Fellows program for university faculty. Prior to joining NAIOP, Moura was a content director at Hanover Research, where he managed market research projects for clients at colleges and universities. 

Moura is a professional member of the American Real Estate Society. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in history from the University of Maryland, College Park. During his studies, he was awarded a Fulbright fellowship to conduct research in Brazil in support of his dissertation.