NEW YORK - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today announced that Marisel Morales, of New York, has been named the Regional Director for HUD's New York/New Jersey region, based in New York.

In this position, Morales will serve as HUD's liaison to mayors, city managers, elected representatives, state and local officials, Congressional delegations, stakeholders and customers in the two states. She will oversee the delivery of HUD programs and services to communities, and evaluate their efficiency and effectiveness. Morales is one of 10 regional directors in the United States.

Since 1997, Morales has served as Chief of Staff in the New York City Office of the Sheriff. In this role, she evaluated fiscal and administrative data for the multimillion-dollar Scofflaw vehicle seizure program, formulated and implemented policies governing field office operations, oversaw labor negotiations and collective bargaining agreements, and prepared briefs and reports for the Sheriff and First Deputy.

Morales served in a variety of capacities with the New York City Housing Authority in 1996-97. She was Executive Assistant for Policy and Programs in the Authority's Department of Community Operations. In this role, she developed and implemented new policies governing field office operations, and interacted with tenant leaders and community-based organizations. In the Office of Public Information, she served as the Public Relations Manager and edited the Authority's "Journal" and "Bulletin" publications. She also organized and coordinated the First Annual New York City Inner City Games, which attracted more than 20,000 youth from the city's five boroughs.

Morales has served on the boards of the Public Policy Committee of the New Jersey Catholic Conference, New Jersey Ethnic Advisory Council, Puerto Rican Organization for Community, Education and Economic Development; St. Mary of the Assumption Scholarship Committee; Washington Rock Girls Scout Council and NJ Gov. Thomas Kean's Hispanic Advisory Council.

A native of Cuba, Morales attended Trinity College in Washington, D.C., and lives with her son Christopher.

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