Peter Linneman was the first in his family to attend a college or university. In 1969, he came to Ashland University, where his eyes were opened to his full potential. It was also at Ashland University he met his wife, Kathleen.

After completing his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago, he became the Albert Sussman Professor of Real Estate at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and Principal of Linneman Associates.

Linneman was named one of the 25 most influential people in real estate and one of 100 most powerful people in New York City real estate. His book on real estate and finance has been adopted by more than 50 universities including Yale, the University of Chicago, Columbia, and Wharton. He was chairman of the Board of Rockefeller Center Properties, and he serves on the Board of Directors of numerous NYSE and private enterprises.

Linneman used the money from an award he received from Pension Real Estate Association to create a scholarship to help local students to Ashland University.