Stephanie Gidigbi

Stephanie Gidigbi was appointed to the Board in December 2019 as First Vice Chair representing the District of Columbia. She champions public policy solutions that promote economic, social, and environmental benefits for communities. As Director of Policy & Partnerships for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Healthy People, Thriving Communities Program, Gidigbi serves as part of the senior leadership team for the Resilient Communities division and Federal Climate Management Team. Stephanie previously served as a political appointee in the Obama Administration. She advanced the administration’s economic opportunity agenda as the Director for Strategic Initiatives at the U.S. Department of Transportation under Secretary Anthony Foxx.

Prior to working for President Obama, Stephanie served as Chief of Staff for the City of Orange in New Jersey. She oversaw the Office of the Mayor and strengthened intergovernmental relationships with community stakeholders, business leaders and elected officials. Stephanie coordinated the City’s housing and economic development strategy to revitalize distressed neighborhoods and reclaim community assets due to the foreclosure crisis.

Gidigbi brings over a decade of international, federal, state, and local government experience in working with elected and community leaders. She has a bachelor’s degree from Kean University and a master’s degree from Seton Hall University. She lives in the Congress Heights Neighborhood in Washington, DC and attends New Solid Christian Ministry in Landover Hills, Maryland.