Jennifer R. Leonard
About Jennifer R. Leonard
Jennifer R. Leonard is the Program Manager for Sustainable Communities at Fannie Mae, with extensive experience in community development and urban planning.
Current Role at Fannie Mae
Jennifer R. Leonard currently holds the position of Program Manager for Sustainable Communities at Fannie Mae. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable community development. Her work focuses on identifying and implementing strategies that enhance community resilience and sustainability. Jennifer leverages her extensive background in community planning and housing development to advance Fannie Mae's mission of fostering innovative solutions for sustainable living.
Experience at City of Baltimore
Jennifer R. Leonard served as the INSPIRE Program Manager at the City of Baltimore's Office of Planning from 2016 to 2022. In this role, she led efforts to improve neighborhoods around schools. Her tasks included coordinating with various stakeholders to implement community-driven redevelopment projects and enhancing neighborhood infrastructure. Jennifer's work aimed at creating safer and more vibrant environments for families, with a particular focus on the areas surrounding local schools.
Center for Community Progress Involvement
From 2010 to 2015, Jennifer R. Leonard was the Founder, Vice President, and Director of National Leadership & Education, as well as Vice President and Director of Advocacy & Outreach at the Center for Community Progress. During her tenure, she developed and implemented national training programs for community leaders. Her role involved extensive outreach and collaboration to advocate for effective community development policies and practices. Jennifer's leadership contributed significantly to empowering local leaders and fostering sustainable urban development across multiple regions.
Career at Smart Growth America
Jennifer R. Leonard worked as the National Vacant Properties Campaign Director at Smart Growth America from 2005 to 2010. She co-authored a report on best practices for managing vacant properties, providing valuable insights and guidelines for communities dealing with property abandonment. Her work focused on creating and promoting strategies to repurpose and revitalize vacant properties, thereby contributing to urban renewal and stronger communities.
Educational Background
Jennifer R. Leonard's educational background includes a Certificate in NeighborWorks® and Harvard University’s Achieving Excellence in Community Development from Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government, achieved between 2011 and 2012. She holds a Master of City and Regional Planning, with a focus on Housing & Community Development, from the University of Pennsylvania, completed between 1999 and 2001. Additionally, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the University of Arizona, graduating in 1993.