Chief housing officer named, will head Housing and Community Services Dept.

Sept. 15, 2025

City of Fayetteville names Marlee Stark as first chief housing officer, introduces Department of Housing and Community Services

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Mayor Molly Rawn has announced the appointment of Marlee Stark as the City of Fayetteville's first chief housing officer.

Stark also will serve as director of the City's newly renamed Department of Housing and Community Services (formerly the Community Resources Department) leading a strengthened focus on housing strategy, services and partnerships that benefit the residents of Fayetteville.

The new role reflects Rawn's vision for Community Resources to take on a larger role in addressing Fayetteville's housing needs. By shifting the department's focus to offer tools and resources that are distinctly housing-focused, the City will be able to reach more people through various funding avenues.

Before joining the City, Stark was a Governor's Fellow for social and economic recovery for the state of Connecticut, focusing on statewide economic and community development planning and federal funding strategies. She also worked as a senior consultant with EY's Financial Services Office, specializing in financial crimes regulatory compliance.

Stark returned to Fayetteville in 2023 and joined the City as the economic vitality manager, where she led the development of the 2024 Economic Vitality Plan and supported housing initiatives, including the City's annual housing assessment, the HUD HOME Program and the Fayetteville Futures Co-Create workshop.

A Fayetteville native, she holds a bachelor's degree in business and enterprise management from Wake Forest University and a master's in public policy (MPP) from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, where her research focused on infrastructure workforce development and equitable economic growth in the South.

Rawn said, "Housing is not the responsibility of one department or one program. It requires collaboration and innovation across City government. By naming a chief housing officer and expanding Community Resources' reach, we are breaking down silos and continuing to put housing at the center of our shared work.

"Marlee has already been leading on these projects, and this role gives her the platform to take that work further."

Stark already has been deeply involved in Fayetteville's housing work through her role in the Economic Development Department. Along with the projects listed above, she also played a key role in shaping projects currently in motion, including expanding opportunities for accessory dwelling units (ADUs), advancing requests for proposals (RFPs) for City-owned land and launching the Renter's Council.

Stark said, "I am honored and excited to take on this new role and continue serving my hometown . Housing impacts every aspect of life, from stability and opportunity to economic growth. I look forward to building on the strong work of our Department of Housing and Community Services team and expanding our partnerships and services to reflect the full range of Fayetteville's housing needs."

The chief housing officer and Community Resources team will coordinate with the Economic Development Department and continue to advance the City's ongoing housing initiatives, including:

• City-owned land for housing: Developing and implementing RFPs to make City land available for affordable and workforce Housing.
• ADUs: Expanding opportunities for homeowners to create additional, flexible housing options in established neighborhoods.
• Renter engagement: Supporting the newly launched Renter's Council to ensure renters have a voice in City decision-making and housing policy.
• HOME Program expansion: Strengthening Fayetteville's participation in the HUD HOME Investment Partnerships Program to increase affordable housing production and preservation.
• Annual Housing Assessment: Building a reliable data foundation to track housing supply, affordability and future needs.

The creation of the chief housing officer role and the expansion of the new Department of Housing and Community Services reflect Mayor Rawn's broader strategy to prioritize housing accessibility and sustainability in Fayetteville's long-term development.

###

Media Contact:
Gracie Ziegler
Chief Communications Officer
City of Fayetteville
479-575-5303
[email protected]