Clayton Merritt is an experienced real estate investment professional with over eight years at The Scion Group, where he currently serves as Senior Vice President, Investments.

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Clayton oversees the group’s student housing investment strategies and spearheads due diligence, advising the investment committee on acquisitions and strategic opportunities to enhance portfolio growth.

Previously, Clayton held roles as Vice President of Acquisitions and Director of Acquisitions at The Scion Group, leading high-impact projects that enhanced the company’s investment portfolio.

Before his tenure at The Scion Group, Clayton worked as an Aerospace Engineer at Northrop Grumman Corporation, contributing to engineering projects at Tinker AFB, Oklahoma. This background provided him with strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, which he leverages in his real estate career.

Clayton’s diverse professional experience includes roles such as Leasing Coordinator at American Campus Communities and Soccer Referee for the U.S. Soccer Federation, equipping him with a broad skill set for managing complex projects and teams.

Clayton holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Electromagnetics from The University of New Mexico and a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University.