I recently completed a 2-year leadership development program with a Fortune 500 company and accepted a full time offer in Clearwater FL.

You can actually hit up to a 50% DTI with that program but not all lenders carry that option.DSCR- debt service coverage ratio will allow you to use the rental income to qualify for a home that currently has a renter(s). 

When I began, I had left my PhD program at UH Manoa and didn't have much in the way of spare cash.

It's been a while since I used FHA financing - is the 3.5% down program available for investment properties, where you're not living in any of the units as it sounds like was the case here?

She is not yet approved for the Pennsylvania Housing Voucher program with HUD/PHA but hopes to be before the end of the first year.

Or should I use a DPA program to offset closing cost? 

What programs/tools/resources have you found helpful for things like:Finding areas that are most likely to increaseFinding the best size or room numbers to optimize profitAny other areas that would be good to knowThanks in advance

Joining their mentorship program allowed us to learn the ropes of syndication and get involved as general partners on several larger multifamily apartments. 

We were planning to continue down the path of investing in single family and smaller multifamily units, but decided in 2017 that we wanted to grow bigger faster so we started looking more into larger multifamily apartment syndications.Josh ended up going to a Think Multifamily conference in Dallas TX in October of 2017 and he really resonated with Mark and @Tamiel Kenney of Think Multifamily, and we ended up joining their mentorship program! 

I also know there are 0% down programs for certain properties and buyers (USDA, Doctors, etc.) you may want to see if there is a similar program for teachers.