Mafara is a mission-driven storyteller who joined the Seattle Housing Authority in December 2025 inspired by the opportunity to help strengthen Seattle communities. She leads a small but mighty team focused on bringing the organization’s strategic priorities to life through clear, timely and responsive communication that supports and empowers residents, staff and partners.
Before stepping into her role at SHA, Mafara led communications at Providence, one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit healthcare systems, where she developed and launched its inaugural health equity communications program, advocating for high-quality care for all and boldly framing health as a human right. Her professional background includes leadership roles with the Seattle Department of Transportation, the Executive Office of the Mayor in Washington, D.C., and most notably, the U.S. General Services Administration during the Obama administration. There, she led communications and engagement efforts that helped restore the GSA’s reputation after a national scandal involving the agency’s misuse of public funds.
Creative at heart, Mafara holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Howard University and brings a perspective shaped by imagination, empathy and a deep commitment to community to her work and everyday life. She lives in West Seattle with her four-year-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Papa.