Gov. Edwards Appoints Andreanecia Morris Appointed to Louisiana Housing Corporation Board of Directors
Gov. John Bel Edwards recently appointed Andreanecia Morris, executive director of HousingNOLA, to the Louisiana Housing Corporation Board of Directors. A native of Edgard and graduate of Loyola University, Morris has spent the majority of her professional career working to support the creation of affordable housing opportunities for all Louisianians in both the public and private sector.
Established in 2011, the LHC administers federal and state funds through programs designed to advance the development of energy efficient and affordable housing for low and moderate-income families and drive housing policy for the state of Louisiana.
The LHC board is composed of the State Treasurer, two members appointed by the President of the Senate, two members appointed by the Speaker of the House, and six members appointed by the Governor representing various housing sectors and the public. As one of 11 members of the LHC Board of Directors, Morris will continue her work to ensure that every Louisiana resident is granted opportunities to obtain safe, affordable and healthy housing.
“As our state’s housing agency, the Louisiana Housing Corporation is committed to preserving and sustaining affordable housing for all Louisianians,” said Morris. “I am deeply honored by my appointment and excited to continue to work together to address our current housing crisis and create real equity, opportunity and success for all those who call this state home.”
Throughout Morris’ career, she served as the director of communications for the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), marketing manager of HANO, director of telecommunications of HANO, vice-president for Homeownership and Community Development for Providence Community Housing and as president and chairwoman of the Board of Governors of the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance. She was named to the 2014 class of CityBusiness’ “Women of the Year” and in 2016, UNITY of Greater New Orleans named her Outstanding Advocate for Affordable Housing, BIZ New Orleans Magazine named her one of the Top 10 Influencers in Real Estate and Urban Conservancy and Stay Local named her to its 2016 Urban Heroes Class.
Liberty Bank Promotes Donna Walker-Buggage to VP of Regional Branch Operation
Liberty Bank and Trust Company has appointed Donna Walker-Buggage as vice president of Regional Branch Operation, Systems and Controls. She will be directly responsible for implementation and communication of Liberty Bank & Trust’s retail branch operational policies and procedures, assuring that they comply with applicable laws and regulations.
Walker-Buggage has over 24 years of experience in banking and finance, all with Liberty Bank & Trust. Her career with Liberty began in 1993 and since then, she has risen through the ranks beginning as a bank teller, holding roles as a branch manager and assistant vice president Retail Group Operation Manager. Walker-Buggage’s area of expertise includes internal control procedures, project management, process improvements and financial and operational audits. She has also led or participated in numerous internal committees at Liberty including, Policy and Procedure Committee, Dress Code Committee, IT Steering Committee and Acquisition Team.
Walker-Buggage is a native of New Orleans, LA and attended the University of New Orleans and John McDonogh High School.
Liberty Bank, headquartered in New Orleans, LA, was founded in 1972. Liberty has grown from an initial asset base of $2 million to more $625 million. Liberty Bank is among the top 3 largest African-American owned financial institutions with an eight-state footprint in the United States.
Rev. Jay Augustine Named National Outstanding Alumni of the Year by Alpha Phi Alpha
Rev. Jonathan C. Augustine, J.D., M.Div., senior pastor of Historic St. James AME Church in New Orleans and the national chaplain of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., recently received Alpha Phi Alpha’s “National Outstanding Alumni Brother of the Year” Award, given at the fraternity’s July 2017 national convention in Baltimore.. The award was given in recognition of exemplary community leadership, service, and social engagement.
A recently enrolled candidate for the Doctor of Ministry degree at Duke University School of Divinity, Augustine previously served as a member of the faculties at Southern University Law Center and Jarvis Christian College. His published works include a book, The Keys Are Being Passed: Race, Law, Religion and the Legacy of the Civil Rights Movement (2014), as well as more than a dozen professional articles on civil rights and social justice issues.
A 1994 graduate of Howard University, Augustine was initiated into the fraternity through Howard’s historic Beta Chapter in 1991. After four-years of decorated active duty service, as an infantry officer in the United States Army, Augustine earned his juris doctorate from Tulane University and master of divinity from United Theological Seminary, where he later served as a member of the seminary’s Board of Trustees. Rev. Augustine and his wife, Michelle, are the parents of two children, Mason and Jillian.
