HUD SOUTHEAST REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR ED JENNINGS JR., NAMES Dr. ALESIA SCOTT-FORD AS HUD'S JACKSONVILLE, FL FIELD OFFICE DIRECTOR

MIAMI - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Southeast Regional Administrator Ed Jennings, Jr., today announced the selection of Dr. Alesia Scott-Ford to serve as HUD Field Office Director for the northern part of Florida with base in Jacksonville. The swearing in ceremony will take place on April 14th at 11:00 a.m.

As the field office director, Scott-Ford will serve as HUD's liaison to mayors, city managers, elected representatives, state and local officials, congressional delegations, nonprofit groups, private entities, faith based groups, other stakeholders and individual Americans. She will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of HUD programs and services to communities and individuals, as well as evaluating their efficiency and effectiveness.

"Alesia is a dedicated public servant with a strong skill set, making her the ideal person to address HUD's mission and assist communities in need," said Jennings. "We are extremely fortunate to have such an experienced hand to address the challenges ahead and nurture partnerships that will enhance the delivery of services and programs to the communities that rely on them."

"I am honored to be selected as the Jacksonville FL Field Office Director," said Scott-Ford. "I look forward to working with HUD's stakeholders to fulfill our mission of creating strong, resilient, inclusive communities and quality, affordable housing for all."

Scott-Ford has been with HUD for 15 years, most recently as Director of Project Management in the Multifamily Division with responsibility of Asset Development for the State of Florida and Asset Management. Previously she was a community builder, a closing coordinator, a mortgage credit analyst, and project manager in HUD's Jacksonville, Florida office, where she has established herself as a community leader.

Prior to HUD, Scott-Ford served as Founder and Executive Director of two community based organizations in Tampa, Vice President for Grants at the University of South Florida, owned a Consulting Firm; was a Professor of Gerontology at the University of South Florida (USF). And later was the Founding Chair of the Gerontology Department at Edward Waters College (EWC).

Alesia Scott-Ford graduated from the University of Florida with a Degree in Religion and a minor in Chemistry. She went to pursue her graduate education at Atlanta University studying Sociology with a concentration in Gerontology. She obtained a Ph.D. from the University of South Florida in Applied Anthropology with a Specialization in Gerontology. She has the distinct honor of being the First African American in the United States with a Ph.D. in Applied Anthropology. After obtaining her doctorate degree she completed post-doctoral work at the University of Michigan and Harvard University. She also started a Doctorate of Ministry Program at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio. Dr. Scott-Ford is married to Winston Burse and they have four children, Tracey, Ann, Tarsha, and Kenneth.

Where: If you plan to attend the swearing in ceremony on April 14th at 11:00 am the address is 400 West Bay Street, Charles Bennett Federal Building, 9th Floor, Jacksonville, FL 32202

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HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes: utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. You can also follow HUD on twitter @HUDnews, on facebook at www.facebook.com/HUD, or sign up for news alerts on HUD's News Listserv.