The District of Columbia Housing Authority Board of Commissioners appointed native Virgin Islander and St. Thomian Adrianne Todman to be the authority’s executive director Wednesday at its regularly scheduled public meeting.
With the help of an executive recruiting firm, the board conducted a nationwide search, which attracted more than 138 applicants. After a vetting process, Todman’s candidacy was recommended to the full board, said board Chairwoman LaRuby May in a statement.
“An exceptional leader with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the affordable housing industry, Ms. Todman brings to DCHA considerable skill in working collaboratively with District and federal government partners,” May said.
On learning of the appointment, Washington D.C.’s newly elected, incoming Mayor Vincent Gray said, “Adrianne Todman is a proven leader and someone in whom we have great confidence.”
Todman has held leadership roles at both the federal and local government levels during her 19-year career in public administration, according to the authority. She has served as the authority’s interim executive director for more than a year and as deputy executive director for administration and external affairs and as deputy chief of staff for five years.
A former congressional staffer, Todman joined the authority after working as a special assistant to the HUD secretary, where she worked with the White House on affordable housing policy and programs.
At HUD, she received the federal Distinguished Service Award, the HUD Superior Accomplishment Award, and was bestowed the Hammer Award from Vice President Al Gore.
Before taking up her current post, Todman held several key positions in the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. She was legislative director in the office of then Congressman Ron de Lugo, where she worked on national housing, education, and transportation legislation.
Next, she worked in HUD’s Office of Public and Indian Housing and then as a special assistant on policy and programs to then Secretary of HUD Andrew Cuomo.
During her tenure at HUD, Todman had the privilege of managing the competition of the national HOPE VI grant program that funds the revitalization of distressed public housing communities.
From St. Thomas, Todman is a graduate of Smith College and the Skinner Institute’s Master’s Series for Distinguished Leaders.
The DCHA is the nation’s capital’s largest landlord and provides subsidized housing to more than 50,000 District residents. With more than 750 employees and a budget of $300 million, the DCHA administers 8,000 units of public housing and 11,000 units of the Housing Choice Voucher Program housing.
