Lorenzo S. Claxton, Ph.D.

Dr. Lorenzo Claxton is the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Director for the Rural and Economic Development Division at the North Carolina Department of Commerce, where he spearheads impactful housing, community, and economic development projects across rural communities. He brings over 20 years of leadership and a wealth of technical expertise honed through extensive public service, including senior roles at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Dr. Claxton’s executive experience at HUD includes serving as the North Carolina Field Office Director, the primary liaison to the Secretary and the President. In this capacity, he managed a portfolio exceeding $74 billion and coordinated significant disaster recovery and community investment initiatives across the state. Most recently, he served as the Director of Administrative Services at HUD Headquarters, responsible for providing essential procurement, contracting, HR, and operational support to 68 field offices nationwide. His background reflects a mastery of federal housing and grant administration. As the Community Planning and Development (CPD) Program Manager in Little Rock, AR, he provided essential oversight of all CPD programs, including major disaster and pandemic relief funds such as CDBG-CV, HOME-ARP, HOPWA-CV, and ESG-CV, as well as core grants such as CDBG, HOME, HTF, and Disaster Recovery. Earlier in his HUD career, he was instrumental in the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), overseeing the conversion of approximately 30,000 public housing units across 12 Northeastern states. In addition to his administrative service, Dr. Claxton maintains a strong academic background as an Adjunct Professor of the Practice in Wake Forest University’s School of Public Service (SPS) Public Administration Program and as a doctoral faculty member. In this capacity, he actively develops relevant curriculum, including PAD 750, and mentors the next generation of public administration leaders. This dual focus equips him with unique insights into affordable housing policy, public-private partnerships, and community revitalization. He holds a Ph.D. in Global Leadership and Organization Management from Indiana Institute of Technology.