Lisa Bova-Hiatt

Lisa Bova-Hiatt

Lisa Bova-Hiatt is a distinguished leader in public service, renowned for her transformative impact on affordable housing, community development, and public policy in New York. With a career spanning over three decades, she has consistently championed community-driven planning and investment in underserved communities. 

Currently serving as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) since July 2023, Bova-Hiatt oversees the largest public housing authority in North America. She manages a $5.6 billion annual budget, leads 12,500 staff, and ensures stable, affordable housing for more than half a million New Yorkers who are a part of NYCHA’s public housing and Section 8 programs. 

Bova-Hiatt’s leadership has fundamentally reshaped NYCHA’s policies, focusing on preservation, resident empowerment, and long-term community well-being. Her approach centers on robust resident engagement, ensuring that residents' voices inform the decisions that impact their communities. At the same time, she is using all available tools to invest in and expand affordable housing. 

During her tenure, NYCHA has implemented innovative policies and has secured over $11 billion in investment to preserve thousands of apartments through pioneering programs like Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) and the Public Housing Preservation Trust, and through the comprehensive modernization of public housing developments – restoring safety, security, and dignity to low-income families. 

She has implemented state-of-the art workforce, governance, and operational practices to drive organizational culture change, while also prioritizing health, education, employment, financial empowerment, and small business programs for residents. Her tenure is marked by $5.1 billion in completed capital improvements at NYCHA properties with an additional $6.3 billion planned or underway, as well as significant compliance, quality assurance, and environmental health and safety reforms. 

Throughout her career, Lisa Bova-Hiatt has built a legacy of community empowerment, organizational excellence, and lasting positive change for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. 

Before becoming CEO, Bova-Hiatt joined NYCHA as General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs, where she led a team of 200 legal professionals and managed critical legal and business functions. Her prior roles include General Counsel of the City University Construction Fund and Executive University Counsel at CUNY, as well as Executive Director of the New York Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, where she oversaw the reconstruction of over 12,000 homes and managed $4.4 billion in disaster recovery grants. 

Earlier in her career, Bova-Hiatt spent 19 years at the NYC Law Department, specializing in real estate acquisition and development. She holds degrees from Villanova University and Brooklyn Law School.