Laqueesha Robinson

Laqueesha Frafrica Robinson (May 5, 1978 - present) is the 16th and incumbent Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development. Robinson was born in Compton, California, and raised in Lompoc. She graduated from Columbia University with a Master of Science degree in both urban design and urban planning. She is the youngest woman in the United States federal government to be selected as a Secretary, and is also the youngest appointed secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Along with holding her office, Robinson is the deferred Co-President of her own architectural design, planning, and construction company, Robinson-Tower.

Her efforts and submissions as secretary have been largely controversial in the times of recent recession. Her main objective after taking office was the use of the $4 billion allocated to her department after the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to refurbish existing housing developments rather than to establish new ones. As of April 2013, her efforts have been largely noticed especially in lower income areas of the Greater Los Angeles Area, the New York Metropolitan Area, the Greater Atlanta Area, and the New Orleans Metropolitan Area.