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Ellen Seidman
Nonresident Fellow
Housing Finance Policy Center
  • Profile
  • Outside Affiliations
  • Helping policymakers understand the likely impact of proposals and ideas can only make this a better world.

    Ellen Seidman is a nonresident fellow in the Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute. She serves on the boards of the Financial Health Network, Maine Initiatives and Friends of the Strand Theatre.  From 1997 to 2001, Seidman was director of the Office of Thrift Regulation and sat on the boards of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and NeighborWorks America.

    From 2012 to 2016, Seidman served on the inaugural Consumer Advisory Board of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. From 2012 to 2014, she was a visiting scholar at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, where she edited Investing in What Works for America’s Communities; What Counts: Harnessing Data for America’s Communities; and What It’s Worth: Strengthening the Financial Future of Families, Communities, and the Nation. From 2002 to 2010, Seidman held various positions at ShoreBank Corporation. Seidman was senior counsel to the Democratic staff of the House Financial Services Committee, was special assistant to the president for economic policy, and held senior positions at Fannie Mae and the US Departments of Transportation and the Treasury.

    Seidman received an AB from Radcliffe College, an MBA from the George Washington University, and a JD from Georgetown University.

    Research Areas
    Neighborhoods, cities, and metros
    Housing finance
    Tags
    Community and economic development
    Finance
    Small businesses
    Community Reinvestment Act


    Outside Affiliations
    Financial Health Network
    Board member emerita, member PULSE advisory committee
    Maine initiatives
    Board member, traeasurer
    Friends of the Strand Theatre
    Board chair
    Coastal Enterprises, Inc
    Non-board member of Policy Committee
    Luminato Condominium Association
    Board Member
    Body

    Urban experts are permitted and empowered to work and affiliate with outside organizations, whether serving on boards, volunteering their time, or providing advice and counsel. And Urban welcomes visiting scholars, nonresident or affiliated fellows who work for other organizations. These outside affiliations enrich our perspectives and our learning environment. We also require all paid and unpaid experts to disclose their affiliations to Urban leadership and follow rules governing their engagement to ensure transparency for audiences and independence of experts.