Nani Coloretti awaits Senate confirmation as HUD Deputy Secretary; FilAm was nominated by Obama in March

President Obama’s nomination of Nani A. Coloretti since March 10, 2014 to Deputy Secretary at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is awaiting Senate confirmation. If confirmed, Coloretti would be the fourth female deputy secretary and one of the highest-ranking Filipino Americans serving in the administration, according to the organization Kaya: Filipino Americans for Progress.

The FilAm learned that Nani’s mother is Filipina. Her maternal grandparents come from Ilocos Norte and Manila.

Coloretti is currently serving as the Assistant Secretary for Management at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, a position she has held since 2012. Previously, she served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management and Budget from 2009 to 2012. Prior to joining the Administration, she worked in the San Francisco Mayor’s office from 2005 until 2009, most recently serving as Budget Director.

She is a recipient of the National Public Service Award, the Public Policy and International Affairs Achievement Award, the Government Finance Officers Association Distinguished Budget Presentation Award and the Federal 100 Award. She holds a B.A. in Economics and Communications from the University of Pennsylvania and a Master’s in Public Policy from University of California at Berkeley.

“Nani’s nomination demonstrates President Obama’s commitment to diversity and great talent in his cabinet,” said Kaya Co-Chair Romeo Ymalay. “Her confirmation would ensure the representation of the Filipino American community and the greater AAPI community in developing policies that impact us.”

The U.S Senate has made no significant action since the announcement of Coloretti’s nomination. As her strong resume indicates, Coloretti is more than qualified and capable of being a significant part of HUD’s efforts to create strong and inclusive communities across the country, said Kaya in calling on the Senate to swiftly confirm Coloretti’s nomination.

Obama is hopeful his 150 nominees, including Coloretti, would have a greater chance of being confirmed in the current Senate which is led by Democrats. They are likely to face tougher confirmation hearings in the next Senate which will be dominated by Republicans.

Coloretti made known her views on leadership in an interview with businessofgovernment.org.

She said, “What I’ve noticed over time as I’ve come up through the ranks is that people who have a high degree of emotional intelligence make effective leaders. These leaders are actually able to navigate uncertainty better. These leaders are also authentic in their dealings; they can inspire and motivate people to be their very best. People want to work for them [and] be as productive as possible when they’re working for them.”