Freddie Mac Creates New Roles Dedicated to Equitable Housing Solutions

As part of the Biden Administration’s push for equitable and diversity policies, Freddie Mac created two new senior leadership roles in its single-family and multifamily business lines dedicated to addressing equity in housing.

Freddie announced that Pamela Perry will serve as vice president, single-family equitable housing, and Amanda Nunnink will serve as vice president, equity in multifamily housing.

“At Freddie Mac, we are taking active steps to embed diversity, equity and inclusion in every corner of our business,” Debby Jenkins, executive vice president and head of multifamily business, said in a prepared statement. “Amanda’s new role demonstrates Freddie Mac’s clear commitment to support sustainable improvements for the multifamily industry and renters in the broader financial and housing system.”

Nunnink will lead efforts to create sustainable improvements for renters and the rental housing industry and work across multifamily to elevate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) principles throughout the division. Nunnink spent nearly a decade working with Freddie Mac’s Optigo network. 

She joined Freddie Mac in 2012 in production and sales. There she led the development of several of Freddie Mac Multifamily’s more innovative offerings. Before joining the GSE, Nunnink held various production roles for banks and investment groups. Nunnink, who has a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Case Western Reserve University, will also continue most of her duties as vice president, multifamily investor relations until she fully transitions to her new role.

“From investors and lenders to borrowers and renters, we are developing a comprehensive and actionable strategy to foster equitable outcomes for renters from all communities,” Nunnink said in a prepared statement. “I am honored to serve in this capacity, which will allow us to look deeper into our mission and use our platform to create change.”

The industry can expect to see similar initiatives across the federal government’s housing finance ecosystem as the Biden Administration continues to ramp up. 

The world is very different now, said Meghan Sullivan, SVP, Government Relations and Public Policy at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, speaking at MBA’s CREF21 Convention & Expo. “Everything will be viewed through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion.” 

Diversity and inclusion has also become priorities in the private sector. CBRE Group recently announced that Tim Dismond has been promoted to its newly created Chief Responsibility Officer role. 

Dismond, who will retain his current responsibilities as Chief Diversity Officer, will bring together all aspects of CBRE’s Environmental, Social & Governance efforts in his new role. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Environmental Sustainability, Workplace Safety and Wellbeing, Philanthropy and Public/Government Affairs are the current ESG efforts moving under his umbrella.

And JLL appointed industry veteran Ingrid Jacobs to the newly-created global position of head of diversity and inclusion. 

Within the new role, Jacobs will further develop the firm’s global diversity and inclusion strategy. She is now responsible for ensuring that the company attracts, hires and develops a diverse and engaged workforce.