Campus Compact and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Field Policy and Management today announced a new higher education-focused collaboration, the HUD + Higher Ed Engagement Network. The Network, which will be led by Campus Compact in partnership with the Anchor Institutions Task Force (AITF), the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU), and the University Economic Development Association (UEDA), will focus on strengthening connections and collaborations between higher education institutions and the 64 HUD field offices located throughout the country.
“We are thrilled to partner with Campus Compact on this initiative,” said Michele Perez, HUD’s Assistant Deputy Secretary for Field Policy and Management. “Under the leadership of Secretary Fudge, HUD is committed to increasing equity and improving customer service in the delivery of our programs and fulfillment of our mission. This partnership will bolster HUD’s and the members of the Higher Ed Engagement Network’s ability to serve our most vulnerable populations through the higher education space. Together, we will leverage our strong connections in our respective industries to enable a just, equitable, and sustainable future.”
Areas of focus for the Network will include worker empowerment, maternal and infant health, eviction prevention, landlord outreach, housing security and access, broadband access and digital literacy, and cultural competency.
“We are proud to launch this effort, which will revitalize the historically vital partnership between HUD and higher education,” said Bobbie Laur, Campus Compact president. “Campus Compact along with our partners at CUMU, AITF, and UEDA have long championed the impact publicly-engaged higher education institutions can make through equity-driven community, economic, and civic engagement. Through this partnership, we will demonstrate the positive change that can occur when higher education takes concrete steps to address critical issues threatening communities.”
Network activities will be led by the HUD + Higher Ed Engagement Think Tank, which is composed of 30 strategic leaders with broad experience across higher education in the areas of, community engagement, economic development, and public policy. The Think Tank will collaborate with HUD experts and leaders to develop ideas and resources for campuses to engage with HUD field offices and initiatives at the local level. Think Tank members are listed below.
The resources identified by the Think Tank will be disseminated to members of the HUD + Higher Ed Engagement Network, which will include a diverse group of higher education leaders and institutions from across the country. These institutions will put Think Tank plans into action on the ground with the goal of building inclusive, sustainable, and thriving communities through increased civic and community engagement. Membership in the network is free and open to all U.S.-based higher-education institutions and their administrators, faculty, and staff. Compact, AITF, CUMU, and UEDA will engage Network members through training, technical assistance, and other resources.
Learn more and sign up at compact.org/hud-higher-ed-engagement-network.
Think Tank members:
- Reginald Blaylock
Presidential Associate for Community, Campus Partnerships and Student Experience
CalPoly Pomona - Gary Brown
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
Elizabeth City State University - Mary Jo Callan
Vice President for Community Engagement and Executive Director, Swearer Center for Public Service
Brown University - Monica Chavez-Silva
Vice President of Community Engagement and Strategic Planning
Grinnell College - Kathleen Frank
Program Manager, The W. A. Franke College of Business, Economic Policy Institute, Center for American Indian Economic Development
Northern Arizona University - William Generett
Senior Vice President for Civic Engagement and External Relations
Duquesne University - Azuri L. Gonzalez
Executive Director, Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities
UT Regents’ Distinguished Director, Diana Natalicio Institute for Hispanic Student Success
The University of Texas at El Paso - Jacen Greene
Co-founder and Assistant Director, Homelessness Research and Action Collaborative
Portland State University - Joanne Ferroni
Director, University and Community Partnerships
Drexel University - Brian Love
Executive Director of Career Pathways Initiative and Service-Learning Program
Benedict College - Laura Martin
Associate Director, McLean Institute for Public Service and Community Engagement
University of Mississippi - Chris Nayve
Associate Vice President for Community Engagement and Anchor Initiatives
University of San Diego - Holly Nelson
Executive Dean for Regional Education and Academic Development
Chemeketa Community College - David Potash
President
Wilbur Wright College - Paul Pribbenow
President
Augsburg University - John A. Provo
Director, Center for Economic and Community Engagement, Outreach and International Affairs
Virginia Tech - Amber Randolph
Senior Vice President for Administration and Economic Development and CFO
Rutgers University-Newark - Charles Rutheiser
Senior Program Officer
Annie E. Casey Foundation - Thomas Quinn
President
Kirtland Community College - Tony Sorrentino
Assistant Vice President
University of Pennsylvania - Sharon Egretta Sutton
Distinguished Visiting Professor, Architecture
The New School-Parsons - Lydia Stazen
Executive Director, leads the Institute of Global Homelessness
DePaul University & DePaul International - Lenore VanderZee
Executive Director for University Relations
SUNY Canton - Josh Vanek
Executive Director
Montana Campus Compact - Mary Ann Villarreal
Vice President for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
University of Utah - Andy Walker
Executive Director, Office of Economic, Civic & Community Engagement
Allegheny College
Please address all media inquiries to: Molly Leiper, Director of Communications, Campus Compact [email protected]