Monica Chavez-Silva Serves on U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Higher-Ed Engagement Network

Grinnell College’s Vice President of Community Engagement and Strategic Planning Monica Chavez-Silva has been asked to serve on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Higher-Ed Engagement Network, a think tank focused on providing colleges with the support, resources, and assistance necessary to spark inclusivity, sustainability, and higher standards of living in communities which they call home. The Network’s members are drawn from a wide range of universities across the nation, each bringing different experiences and perspectives to the table, such as in community engagement, economic development, and public policy. Chavez-Silva has accepted the offered position on the Network and will be hard at work addressing the current topics it is focused on. These include worker empowerment, maternal and infant health, eviction prevention, landlord outreach, housing security and access, broadband access and digital literacy, and cultural competency.

According to Michele Perez, HUD’s Assistant Deputy Secretary for Field Policy and Management, “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.” 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.

Only thirty members were selected to serve in the HUD + Higher Education Engagement Network, with individuals from institutions such as Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania being selected alongside Chavez-Silva. As the Vice President of Community Engagement and Strategic Planning, Chavez-Silva is responsible for assessing campus and community needs, collaborating with college and community leadership, overseeing local grant-making activities, stewarding outreach programming, and driving collective impact initiatives to enhance the social and economic vitality in Grinnell. She currently holds positions on the board of the International Town and Gown Association and the Advisory Council for the Anchor Institution Taskforce and was appointed by Iowa Governor Reynolds to be on the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service.

Chavez-Silva said of her newfound position, "I am honored to participate in this inaugural think tank effort. It's an exciting opportunity to help share this newly revitalized partnership between HUD and higher ed, and to bring the perspective of smaller communities to the table.”

Representation in the Network by Chavez-Silva will allow the unique Grinnell College perspective to have an impact on a national level in the effort by institutions of higher education to better communities across the country.

For more about the HUD + Higher Ed Engagement Network as well as the list of those serving on the think tank, visit their web page.