Executive Director of the FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute

Department

College of Business-Office

About the University

Established in 1965, Metropolitan State University ( MSU Denver ) was founded to serve students who were underrepresented in higher education whose life paths and experiences did not fit the traditional mold. Sixty years later, the University continues to serve over 16,000 of Colorado’s extraordinary and diverse students, providing them with the foundation on which to build their unique aspirations. As the third largest public institution of higher education in Colorado, MSU Denver is a model university for today’s college students.

Proud of its federal designation as a Hispanic-Serving Institution that also offers graduate programs (gHSI) and the only Seal of Excelencia certified institution in Colorado, the University serves the most diverse undergraduate student population in the state, as well as the most first-generation students. Through affordable, flexible, and holistic education, MSU Denver helps students build essential skills grounded in a multicultural and global perspective that lead to undergraduate and graduate degrees, and career and life success.

At MSU Denver, we are committed to our CADRE values: Community, Access, Diversity, Respect, and Excellence. We strive to create a supportive and inclusive environment where all community members are valued and belong. Our dedication to breaking down barriers to education, fostering open dialogue, and promoting world-class scholarship ensures that we provide exceptional services and innovative learning opportunities for our students, faculty, and staff.

FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute Vision and Mission

The vision of the FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute is that MSU Denver students, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners will have access to the knowledge, resources, experiences, and support they need to understand, enter, and lead within the affordable housing field.

The mission of the FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute is to advance affordable housing education, workforce development, community engagement, and industry-connected learning. The Institute prepares students and community members to contribute meaningfully to affordable housing, real estate, finance, policy, development, and community impact through academic programs, non-credit programming, experiential learning, partnerships, and applied industry engagement.

Position Summary

The College of Business at MSU Denver seeks a forward-thinking, visionary, and experienced leader to serve as the next Executive Director of the FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute. The Executive Director of the FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute (AHI) provides strategic leadership, operational oversight, and academic integration for MSU Denver’s interdisciplinary affordable housing initiative. This is a 12-month appointment with ongoing, year-round administrative and instructional duties reporting to the Dean of the College of Business.

The Executive Director of the FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute serves as the academic, strategic, and community-facing leader for affordable housing education, workforce development, industry engagement, non-credit programming, and interdisciplinary academic integration. Housed within the College of Business but operating with an interdisciplinary and collaborative focus, the Institute supports students, faculty, community partners, housing professionals, developers, financial institutions, nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and industry stakeholders by connecting affordable housing knowledge with education, career pathways, applied learning, and community impact.

The Executive Director is responsible for advancing the Institute’s role as a regional leader in affordable housing education and workforce development. The Executive Director will help position MSU Denver as a distinctive public urban university partner for affordable housing finance, policy, development, management, and community-centered housing solutions. The Executive Director will also support student success, professional mobility, and industry engagement by helping students and working professionals develop the knowledge, skills, experiences, and relationships needed to contribute to the affordable housing sector. The Executive Director will work closely with faculty, college leadership, college and school partners, University Advancement, C2 Hub, the Affordable Housing Industry Navigator, the AHI Advisory Council, and external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Center Executive Director - Leadership and Strategic Management of the Center (70%)

Strategic Leadership & Operations

• •Provide overall leadership and vision for AHI aligned with the College of Business strategic priorities
• •Establish annual goals, program strategy, and operational processes
• •Oversee day-to-day operations, budgeting, and program execution
• •Collaborate with the C2 Hub and the AH Industry Navigator to recruit and enroll students into programming

Fundraising & Advancement

• •Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with donors, foundations, and public agencies
• •Partner with University Advancement to secure grants, sponsorships, and philanthropic support
• •Prepare proposals, manage funded projects, and ensure reporting compliance

Community & Industry Partnerships

• •Build and maintain relationships with developers, financial institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies
• •Serve as MSU Denver’s representative in housing coalitions and industry forums
• •Convene events such as summits, panels, and practitioner workshops

Non-Credit Program Development

• •Lead development and promotion of non-credit programs (certificates, workshops, executive education)
• •Recruit instructors and ensure program quality
• •Track outcomes and align offerings with workforce needs

Advisory Council & Stakeholder Engagement

• •Work with Advancement and college leadership to support and engage the AHI Advisory Council
• •Represent AHI to internal and external stakeholders
• •Represent MSU Denver and the College of Business in affordable housing, real estate, finance, community development, workforce development, public policy, and industry networks.
• •Position the Institute as a distinctive regional leader in affordable housing education, industry-connected learning, workforce development, and community impact.

Curriculum Innovation and Industry Alignment (30%)

• •Contribute to the development and continuous improvement of curriculum related to affordable housing and real estate
• •Collaborate with faculty to align non-credit programming with academic pathways
• •Support student engagement through: experiential learning opportunities; industry projects; internships and career pathways
• •Academic Program and Credential Development
• •Lead the maintenance, design and development of interdisciplinary academic offerings related to affordable housing, including undergraduate certificates, micro-credentials, and digital badges
• •Evaluate opportunities to expand or refine existing programs (e.g., Affordable Housing Management certificate) to improve alignment with industry needs and student demand
• •Collaborate with faculty across colleges and schools at MSU Denver to strengthen interdisciplinary curriculum pathways that align with mission and industry needs and develop recruitment strategies for pipeline programming

• •Curriculum Strategy and Alignment
• •Ensure alignment between non-credit programming and for-credit curriculum to create clear stackable pathways for students and working professionals
• •Support the integration of industry-relevant skills, tools, and competencies into academic offerings
• •Work with faculty and leadership to assess curriculum gaps and propose new courses or program enhancements

• •Assessment and Continuous Improvement
• •Develop and implement processes to assess the effectiveness of certificates, badges, and related curricular initiat