Jennifer Gottlieb Elazhari is currently the HUD Director for the Division of Public and Indian Housing in the State of Connecticut. In this position, she oversees Connecticut Housing Authorities in housing development and management. She promotes the use of innovative practices to serve the low-income community. In 2021, Jennifer received an Innovation Award from HUD for promoting formal partnerships between CT agencies and their local public schools for referral of homeless families. She serves on the HUD Climate Change and Environmental Justice Working Group. In 2023, Jennifer will host an Energy Efficiency Lunch and Learn series for Field Directors and HUD staff nationwide. This series is designed to empower HUD staff with knowledge about renewable integration, energy financing, benchmarking, and Net Zero Building so that they can more effectively promote these practices. Prior to joining HUD, Jennifer served as Assistant City Manager of Norwich, Connecticut where she developed an Energy Efficiency program, a Childcare Assistance Program and won competitive grants in Neighborhood Stabilization (HUD) and Brownfield mitigation (EPA). She holds a BA in Architecture from Barnard College/Columbia University and a Juris Doctor from Quinnipiac University. Jennifer pursues fine art painting and is a mother to two daughters.