Terri Lee
Deputy Commissioner,
Department of Planning & Community Development
City of Atlanta
Terri Lee is the deputy commissioner of the Department of Planning and Community Development for the city of Atlanta. For 18 years, she has been a key fixture in the departments she has served by developing quality control systems for the program management of federal funds. In addition to overseeing the department’s $63M operating and project budget, she is responsible for managing pro-grams and supporting legislative policies that are focused on advancing community and economic enhancement initiatives that will improve the community for residents.
Lee believes the educational opportunities she was af-forded have equipped her with a foundation of knowledge that has been highly beneficial throughout her career. Upon receiving a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Grambling State University, Lee attained a master’s of public policy and administration from Jackson State University. To add to her educational success, Lee was awarded the Ford Foundation Fellow from the Neighborworks America Achieving Excellence Program at the John F. Kennedy School of Government in collaboration with Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government Executive Education Program.
“My continued thirst for professional and leadership development has also been instrumental in guiding and positioning me appropriately on a progressive career track. The culmination of this training and the ability to strategically understand the alignment of public policy for successful outcomes has been key to preparing me for my current position, says Lee.
Since 2008 Lee has participated in countless initiatives, including: serving as a Freddie Mac National Affordable Housing Council board member; serving as a founding board member of the Atlanta Collaborative Land Trust, and establishing the city of Atlanta’s $35 million housing fund to provide affordable rental and homeownership workforce housing.
