Gretchen Ellis

Gretchen Ellis is a PhD candidate at The LBJ School of Public Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin and expects to receive her doctorate in May, 2024. Her research centers on affordable housing, with a focus on Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC). A mixed-methods researcher, her book project, Beyond Shelter: Understanding the Demographics and Housing Experiences of Texas' Low Income Housing Tax Credit Residents, explores previously unpublished detailed data on tenants in Texas LIHTC projects since 2013. With a perspective honed from decades of business experience and as a former CFO of a multi-billion dollar telecommunications company, she describes the Texans in the program and analyzes how well the program serves these tenants and where policy has made a difference in tenant well-being. She also serves on the board of one non-profit LIHTC project in Austin and is deeply involved in the development of two others.