Eric Belsky (left) and Chris Herbert
June 6, 2014: Joint Center for Housing Studies Managing Director Eric Belsky has been named Director of the Division of Consumer and Community Affairs at the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in Washington. We at Harvard want to congratulate Eric on this exciting opportunity, to which he will bring an extraordinary level of talent and vision.
The Joint Center is very fortunate that Research Director Chris Herbert has graciously agreed to assume the duties of Acting Managing Director. The transition will take place in mid-July. During the course of his extensive career at Harvard, Chris has gained the respect of his colleagues throughout the Kennedy School and at JCHS. In addition to his academic credentials, he has built a distinguished career as a consultant with Abt Associates, providing him with the real world experience necessary to guide the Center over an interim period as the university undertakes the process of selecting the next permanent director.
In addition, the JCHS Faculty Advisory Committee, chaired by Professor Ann Forsyth, will provide leadership and support for mapping future directions for the Center as a unique partnership of industry and the academy.
Although the leadership is changing, the JCHS remains more committed than ever to addressing the critical intellectual and policy issues surrounding housing and urban policy across the United States. And we look forward in a few weeks to the release of the 2014 edition of our signature State of the Nation’s Housing report, which Chris has been directing since he returned to Harvard in 2010. Every year, this report digs deep into the data to understand key drivers of the housing market, to inform decision making at every level of business and government, to keep a spotlight where the challenges are, and to illuminate housing’s vital role in the economy.