Estelle Richman

Estelle Richman serves as acting deputy secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). In this role, Richman manages the day-to-day operations of the agency, with a particular focus on the transformation of HUD's human capital, procurement, and information technology function. She also contributes important expertise to the efforts underway to break down internal agency silos.

After more than 30 years of public service, Richman joined HUD from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare where she served as Secretary of Public Welfare for seven years. She also served as managing director for the City of Philadelphia and previously director of social services for the City of Philadelphia. Other positions held by Richman include the City of Philadelphia's Commissioner of Public Health and Deputy commissioner for mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse services; and assistant director with the positive education program in Cleveland, Ohio, a day treatment program for children with behavior problems.

A nationally recognized expert on issues of behavioral health and children's services, Richman has been honored for advocacy efforts by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the American Psychiatric Association and the American Medical Association, among others. She is also the recipient of the 1998 Ford Foundation/Good Housekeeping Award for Women in Government. In addition, the Behavioral Health System named her the winner of the 1999 Innovations in American Government from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University.

Richman received her master's degree from Cleveland State University.

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