Elizabeth Glenn Named NAHRO’s 2021 Outstanding Professional of the Year

The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) named Elizabeth “Liz” Glenn the Outstanding Professional of the Year. The award was announced at the association’s Online National Conference and Exhibition. 

“Liz’s accomplishments and energy are an inspiration to us all,” NAHRO Interim CEO Mike Gerber said. “She is a skilled and dedicated housing and community development professional, as well as a coalition-builder who has facilitated many national and international partnerships and knowledge exchanges. Her work on NAHRO’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Committee led to the adoption of a DEI policy framework that will help guide the association forward.” 

In addition to chairing NAHRO’s DEI Advisory Committee, Glenn is the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the African Housing Professionals Forum, the Chair of the US Africa Collaborative, Special Advisor to the UK/Nigeria Society for Housing Professionals, and the South Africa Professional Exchange Manager for Sustainable Community Development. This year, she also helped to launch the United States-China Collaborative Global Classroom, an interdisciplinary program to equip a new and diverse generation of leaders who are committed to making the built world a better place. Her previous positions include Deputy Director of Neighborhood Improvement at the Baltimore County Department of Planning, Chief of Community Planning and Development at the Baltimore Office of Planning, and Executive Director at the Baltimore Housing Roundtable. 

About the Outstanding Professional of the Year Award  

 The Outstanding Professional of the Year Award is NAHRO’s highest and most prestigious award given to honor an exceptionally qualified person who has made outstanding contributions to the quality of life through service in the field of housing or community development. The award is made on the basis of extraordinary accomplishments and contributions.  

 The award was established in 1975 in the name of M. Justin Herman. It was renamed and revamped in 2019 to better reflect the purpose of the award and to encourage nominees from all agency sizes to apply.