Genger Charles is Managing Director, Head of External Affairs and Impact Strategies at Amherst. In this role, Genger spearheads Amherst’s engagement with government entities and other housing stakeholders to identify scalable housing solutions, with a focus on the creation and preservation of affordable and workforce housing. Additionally, Genger leads efforts to implement social impact and sustainability principles across the Amherst portfolio, including developing data management techniques and oversight of Amherst’s Client Assessment Resource Empowerment Support (CARES) team, which empowers and educates residents to achieve greater housing stability through resource sharing, advocacy and social-emotional support.

Prior to joining Amherst, Genger served in a number of roles at the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including as General Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Office of Housing and Deputy Commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), overseeing operations and policy for FHA’s single family, multifamily and healthcare mortgage insurance programs as well as subsidized rental housing programs and the housing counseling grant programs. She also previously served as a Director of Banking and Capital Markets at PricewaterhouseCoopers where she provided clients subject matter expertise in Third Party Risk Management and led practice development efforts for affordable and rental housing.

Genger holds a Bachelor of Science in Policy Analysis and Management from Cornell University, a Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School (admitted in New York). She also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and Civic Builders, a non-profit developer of charter schools. She is based in Washington, D.C.