JAMES FRASER
Richmond,Virginia
Summary
Senior policy strategist with over 28 years of experience in developing and evaluating municipal policies focused on affordable housing and community development. Expertise in converting complex research into practical frameworks and fostering consensus among diverse stakeholders. Successfully advanced housing policy initiatives and coordinated efforts across government departments, resulting in measurable community improvements. Recognized for contributions through testimony before the U.S. Congressional Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate Professor & Sociology Program Coordinator
Virginia State University
, USA
01.2023 - Current
- Published peer-reviewed articles on policy effectiveness and equitable development.
- Editorial Board member for Housing, Theory & Society, and the Journal of Poverty.
- Faculty Senator, Virginia State University; Senator, Faculty Senate of Virginia.
Research Project Director & Policy Consultant
Preservation of Affordable Housing
Cincinnati, Ohio
01.2018 - 12.2023
- Reported directly to national leadership on the policy implications for affordable housing preservation.
- Directed a longitudinal study on low-income household experiences in mixed-income developments, producing findings that shaped national policy efforts.
- Authored 'Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Making Mixed-Income Neighborhoods Work for Low-Income Households' (Final Report, 2024)—a comprehensive research document documenting policy effectiveness and recommendations for national housing policy.
Associate Professor of Community Development
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, TN
07.2007 - 06.2018
- Served as a trusted policy advisor to the Mayor's Office and Metro Planning Department on flagship municipal initiatives, including the NashvilleNext comprehensive plan.
- Housing Policy Advisor for the NashvilleNext Plan: Developed a comprehensive housing strategy addressing mixed-income development, affordable housing preservation, and anti-displacement measures.
- Authored housing policy recommendations that shaped Nashville's urban development framework, and advised planning staff on the implementation of policies affecting thousands of households.
- Convened planning department staff, housing developers, nonprofit leaders, community representatives, and city officials to reach consensus on complex policy issues.
- Conducted longitudinal research on equitable development, mixed-income housing outcomes, and neighborhood stabilization, and translated academic research into municipal policy frameworks adopted by the Metro Planning Department.
- Testified before the Nashville Planning Commission and Metro Council on housing policy and equitable development; authored op-eds in The Tennessean on affordable housing and transit-oriented development that influenced public discourse and policy directions.
- Built collaborative relationships between the public sector (Metro Planning, housing authority), private developers, real estate interests, nonprofit housing organizations, and community groups—fostering dialogue between traditionally disconnected sectors.
- Authored housing policy recommendations for Metro's Inclusionary Zoning Feasibility Study (2016), guiding Nashville's affordable housing requirements.
- Consulted on Metro's Connected Nashville Smart City initiative, ensuring policy alignment with equity and accessibility standards.
- Served on the Mayor's Poverty Reduction Initiative Committee (2008–2012), advising on housing and community development approaches.
- Developed the 'Equitable Development: Promising Practices' framework, which was adopted by the Metro Planning Department and referenced by housing agencies nationally.
- Evaluated HOPE VI developments; research-informed Metro's public housing transformation strategy.
- Guided community outreach initiatives to enhance public engagement and awareness.
Education
Ph.D. - Sociology
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA05-1996
M.A. - Sociology
Georgia State University
Atlanta, GA05-1993
B.A. - Sociology
University of Georgia
Athens, GA05-1990
Skills
- Policy formulation and assessment
- Housing and community initiatives
- Environmental policy evaluation
- Equity-focused development frameworks
- Budget oversight and analysis
- Leadership in stakeholder engagement
- Cross-sector collaboration
- Community involvement strategies
- Advisory support for boards
- Presentation skills for public speaking
- Techniques in data analysis
- Expertise in report writing
- Management of grants and contracts
Board And Advisory Service
Editorial Board, Housing, Theory & Society, Editorial Board, Journal of Poverty, Metropolitan Development Housing Agency (Nashville), Advisory Committee, 2009–2018, Open Table Nashville, Board Member, 2015–2018, Urban Green Lab (Nashville), Board Chair, 2013–2015, Mayor's Poverty Reduction Initiative Committee (Nashville), Member, 2008–2012
References
Available upon request.
Selected Publications And Policy Reports
The Performative City: An Approach to the Study of Urban Policy, Co-Editor, 2025, Waveland Press, Thriving, Not Just Surviving: Making Mixed-Income Neighborhoods Work for Low-Income Households, Final Report, POAH Communities, 2024, Housing Policy and Inclusionary Zoning Feasibility Study for Nashville, Consultant Report, Metro Planning Department, 2016, Equitable Development: Promising Practices to Maximize Affordability and Minimize Displacement in Nashville's Urban Core, Metro Planning Department, 2014, Does Airbnb Impact Housing Markets in Nashville?, Research Report, 2017, Co-authored chapters on public housing transformation, mixed-income housing, equitable development, and reparative planning in peer-reviewed collections and publications for HUD.
Core Competencies
Policy research and evaluation, Housing and community development policies, Municipal planning and land use policies, Legislative affairs and government relations, Equitable development frameworks, Budget and fiscal analysis, Intergovernmental coordination, Coalition building and consensus development, Multi-sector stakeholder convening, Cross-departmental coordination, Community engagement and participatory governance, Strategic planning facilitation, Board-level advisory services, Public presentation and testimony, Qualitative and quantitative research design, Data analysis and interpretation, Policy evaluation and assessment, Report writing and policy documentation, Grant writing and contract management, Spatial analysis, Legislative tracking and analysis
Timeline
Associate Professor & Sociology Program Coordinator
Virginia State University
01.2023 - Current
Research Project Director & Policy Consultant
Preservation of Affordable Housing
01.2018 - 12.2023
Associate Professor of Community Development
Vanderbilt University
07.2007 - 06.2018
Ph.D. - Sociology
Georgia State University
M.A. - Sociology
Georgia State University
B.A. - Sociology
University of Georgia