Federal Reserve Community Development Experts

Get to know the Federal Reserve community development research and outreach professionals focused on issues facing low- and moderate-income communities across the United States.

Find an Expert

Team

Areas of Expertise

FRS District

  • Brianna Smith
    Brianna Smith

    Senior Research Analyst

    Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

    Brianna is a senior research analyst in Community Development and Policy Studies at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.


  • Jason Smith
    Jason Smith

    Senior Community Development Advisor

    Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

    Jason leads the Rural Investment Collaborative, a new Bank initiative to improve economic improvement in small towns and rural communities.


  • Heather Sobrepena
    Heather Sobrepena

    Engagement Director

    Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

    Heather is the engagement director for the Federal Reserve’s Center for Indian Country Development.


  • Libby Starling
    Libby Starling

    Senior Advisor

    Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

    Libby focuses on effective housing policies and practices that make a difference for low- and moderate-income communities.


  • Anna Steiger
    Anna Steiger

    Administrative Officer

    Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

    Anna has published research on community investment tools, economic revitalization, and other topics.


  • Nicole Summers-Gabr
    Nicole Summers-Gabr

    Senior Researcher

    Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

    Nicole is a senior researcher on the Community Development Research team at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.


  • Rachael Surmick
    Rachael Surmick

    Community Development Advisor

    Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City

    Rachael is a community development advisor for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in the Omaha Branch Office.


  • Catherine Tonsberg
    Catherine Tonsberg

    Policy Analyst

    Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

    Catherine conducts research on job quality, racial equity, and post-industrial communities.


  • H Trostle
    H Trostle

    Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Indian Country Development

    Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

    H currently leads the work on tribal economic infrastructure at the Center for Indian Country Development (CICD) at the Minneapolis Fed.


  • Jason  Vargo, PhD, MPH
    Jason Vargo, PhD, MPH

    Senior Researcher

    Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

    Jason studies the role of environmental hazards on regional economies and financial and household wellbeing.


  • Jacob Walker
    Jacob Walker

    Senior Research Analyst

    Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta

    Jacob is a senior research analyst contributing to the Bank’s Advancing Career for Low-Income Families Initiative and various CED research projects.


  • Emily Wavering Corcoran
    Emily Wavering Corcoran

    Senior Manager, Regional Economics

    Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond

    Emily is a senior manager on the Regional and Community Analysis team at the Richmond Fed.


  • Faith Weekly
    Faith Weekly

    Community Development Advisor

    Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

    Faith develops programs that promote affordable housing and neighborhood revitalization.


  • Ann Marie Wiersch
    Ann Marie Wiersch

    Principal and Senior Community Development Policy Advisor

    Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland

    Ann Marie advises leaders in community development on matters of small-business credit and fintech lending.


  • Sisi Zhang
    Sisi Zhang

    Community Development Economic Advisor

    Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

    Sisi is an applied labor and housing economist studying racial wealth disparity, income volatility, access to credit, and housing policy at the Philadelphia Fed.


  • Xiaohan Zhang
    Xiaohan Zhang

    Senior Economist

    Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

    Xiaohan’s research focuses on human capital and household finance.