8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 1, 2016

Education Realty Trust, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland	001-32417	20-1352180
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	(Commission File Number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

999 South Shady Grove Road, Suite 600 Memphis, Tennessee (Address of principal executive offices) 38120 (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (901) 259-2500

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 5.02.    Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

On January 1, 2016, the board of directors (the “Board”) of Education Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Kimberly K. Schaefer as a member of the Board, effective immediately.

Ms. Schaefer has over twenty years of experience in the hospitality industry. From January 2009 until September 2015, Ms. Schaefer served as the Chief Executive Officer of Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. the largest owner, operator and developer in North America of drive-to family resorts featuring indoor water parks and other family-oriented entertainment activities. Prior to being appointed the Chief Executive Officer of Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. in January 2009, Ms. Schaefer served as its Chief Operating Officer from 2005 to 2009 and its Chief Brand Officer from 2004 to 2005. From 1997 until 2004, Ms. Schaefer served as Senior Vice President of Operations of The Great Lakes Companies, Inc., the predecessor company of Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. Since February 2009, Ms. Schaefer has been a member of the Board of Directors at Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. and sits on the Board of Trustees for Edgewood College Business School. Ms. Schaefer received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin and is a certified public accountant (inactive).

At this time, the Board has not appointed Ms. Schaefer to serve on any Board committees. There are no related-party arrangements or understandings between Ms. Schaefer and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Schaefer was appointed a director of the Company.

As an independent member of the Board, Ms. Schaefer will be entitled to certain compensation that all of the Company’s independent directors receive, including a base annual retainer of $38,000 and additional fees to the extent she serves on any committees of the Board. In addition, the Company entered into an indemnification agreement with Ms. Schaefer in connection with her appointment to the Board.

A copy of the press release announcing Ms. Schaefer appointment as director is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference. Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.

Item 9.01.     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1*	Press release dated January 5, 2016.

_______________

* Furnished herewith.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	EDUCATION REALTY TRUST, INC.
Date: January 7, 2016	By:	/s/ Edwin B. Brewer, Jr.
		Name: Edwin B. Brewer, Jr. Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1*	Press release dated January 5, 2016.

_______________

* Furnished herewith.

EX-99.1

EdR Appoints Kimberly K. Schaefer to Board of Directors

MEMPHIS, Tenn., January 5, 2016 – EdR (NYSE: EDR), a leader in the ownership, development and management of quality collegiate housing, today announced the appointment of Kimberly K. (Kim) Schaefer to the company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately. Schaefer will serve as an independent director of the company.

“With her 20 years’ experience in real estate, hospitality management and finance, Kim brings a strong business acumen to our board,” said Randy Churchey, EdR’s chief executive officer. “Additionally, her creativity and experience in establishing and refining the Great Wolf Resorts brand into a premier family entertainment brand will make her a valuable addition to EdR's leadership.”

Schaefer has served as Chief Executive Officer of Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. — the brand leader in the waterpark resort industry — since January 2009 and has been a member of the company’s Board of Directors since February 2009. For nearly 15 years prior to her advancement to CEO, Schaefer served at various times as Chief Operating Officer and Chief Brand Officer, and was involved in site selection as well as producing a strong and successful operations record.

About EdR

EdR (NYSE:EDR) is one of America's largest owners, developers and managers of collegiate housing. EdR is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust that owns or manages 80 communities with nearly 42,000 beds serving 51 universities in 23 states. EdR is a member of the Russell 2000 Index and the Morgan Stanley REIT indices. For details, please visit the company's Web site at www.EdRtrust.com.

For more information, contact:

J. Drew Koester, Senior Vice President, Capital Markets and Investor Relations

901-259-2523 dkoester@EdRtrust.com

For media information or photography, contact:

Susan Jennings, Vice President, Corporate Communication and Marketing

901-259-2506 sjennings@EdRtrust.com

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

Statements about the company's business that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements because the matters they describe are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's future results, performance, or achievements to differ significantly from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Such risks are set forth under the captions "Item 1A. Risk Factors" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in our annual report on Form 10-K and under the caption "Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" (or similar captions) in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and as described in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the dates on which they are made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any guidance or other forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments, or otherwise, unless required by law.