City Council confirmed appointments on January 14

Aser Ashkir

SEATTLE — January 14, 2013 — Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn has appointed Aser Ashkir and Deborah Canavan Thiele to the Seattle Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, and reappointed existing Commissioner Kollin Min. The appointments were confirmed by the Seattle City Council on January 14, 2013. The seven-member board oversees the agency's policy direction and activities. 

"Our new Commissioners bring deep knowledge and passion to their new positions, and Kollin has been an exceptional and engaged Commissioner throughout his first term," said Andrew Lofton, Executive Director of Seattle Housing Authority. "We couldn't be more pleased with these appointments to our Board."

Deborah Canavan Thiele

Commissioner Ashkir currently serves as Youth and Family Program Director for a local nonprofit organization that provides tutoring and other services for East African communities. Previously he has worked as an Employment and Training Program Supervisor for a multi-service agency serving low-income people and as an ESL and Employment Case Manager for a refugee resettlement office. He volunteers as a tutor, and maintains memberships in several organizations that assist immigrants and refugees. Ashkir is a resident of one of Seattle Housing Authority's largest HOPE VI communities, and holds a degree in economics from Ohio State University.

Commissioner Thiele is a Senior Program Manager for a national organization that works to improve opportunities for the homeless and other vulnerable families through supportive housing. She has held previous positions in multi-family lending at the Seattle Office of Housing, and in homeless housing initiatives at the King County Housing Authority. Thiele holds a degree in communications and professional writing and is an accomplished public speaker and trainer for multiple government and nonprofit organizations. 

Kollin Min

Commissioner Min will be serving his second term on Seattle Housing Authority's Board. He is a program officer for a charitable foundation in Seattle where he works on issues related to ending family homelessness. He was previously director of the Washington State office of Enterprise Community Partners, a national nonprofit that finances affordable housing and community development. Min graduated from Yale University and holds a law degree from the University of Washington. He has worked in government and politics as well as in organizations supporting the environment and green building.