Habitat for Humanity of Durham Names Nimasheena Burns as President & Chief Executive Officer

July 10, 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Durham, N.C., July 10th, 2025 – Habitat for Humanity of Durham (HFHD) today announced that its Board of Directors unanimously appointed Nimasheena Burns as the organization’s new President and Chief Executive Officer. A visionary leader, lifelong public servant, and tireless advocate for equity, Burns brings more nearly two decades of experience in government, housing policy, economic and community development to the role. She will succeed affordable housing Champion, Interim CEO and former Chairwoman of the Board Carleena Deonanan, and lead HFHD’s efforts to expand affordable housing opportunities in the Durham community.

Burns has served most recently as Deputy Chief of External Affairs for the North Carolina Department of Public Safety’s Office of Recovery and Resiliency (NCORR), where she led multi-billion-dollar disaster recovery housing and resilience programs and statewide rental assistance programs. She is also a former Vice Chair of the Durham County Board of Commissioners (2020–2024), where she championed affordable housing initiatives and economic development. In addition, Burns held senior roles in state and federal government, including but not limited to last year’s Presidential Appointment as the Senior Advisor for Community Development for the United State’s Department of Housing and Urban Development as well as positions with the North Carolina Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Throughout her career, she has built coalitions and secured funding to co-fund housing projects, with track records such as successfully spearheading Durham County’s First Revolving Housing Trust fund, helping to expand Durham’s affordable housing stock and supporting mixed-income community developments.

We are thrilled to welcome Nimasheena into the leadership role at Habitat for Humanity of Durham,” said Ernest Smith, Chair of the HFHD Board of Directors. “Her experience, passion, and deep commitment to the community make her an ideal leader for our organization.”

As Habitat celebrates 40 years of service in Durham, my focus as Board Chair is to build upon the foundation laid by the leaders who came before us – by opening doors to new voices, fresh ideas, and innovative approaches.  Nimasheena’s appointment is a powerful continuation of that momentum,” Smith continues.  “Working alongside our dedicated board and exceptional staff, we will expand Habitat’s reach while staying rooted in our mission.”

“She brings a clear understanding of our mission and the growing housing challenges facing families in Durham.  We are confident in her vision to strengthen operations, grow volunteer engagement, and forge strong partnerships across city, county, and corporate sectors. Her leadership will greatly advance our efforts to create safe, affordable homes and expand opportunity for neighbors from all walks of life.” 

Burns said she is honored to join the Habitat for Humanity of Durham team. “I am excited to build on Durham Habitat’s strong foundation of service and volunteerism,” she said. “Safe, affordable housing is a foundation for thriving communities, so our focus will continue to be on expanding opportunities for both our underserved neighbors and those in the “missing middle” who are looking for an alternative to a housing system that has not served them.  We will optimize our processes for greater efficiency and impact, and develop strong regulatory partnerships with city and county governments to accelerate housing solutions. At the same time, we will engage corporate partners who share our commitment to housing equity, wealth building and financial literacy” Burns emphasized that time is of the essence. “Durham’s housing crisis affects people at every income level. By working together with urgency and innovation, we can help more families realize the dream of homeownership and stability.  We will be a beacon, not a backdoor”

Burns, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelors in Communications and minor in Political Science and holder of a Master’s in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University, has completed numerous prestigious leadership programs, including Leadership North Carolina, the NC Defense Contractors Academy, the UNC School of Government Advanced Leadership Corps, The Partnership, Inc. NC Leadership Accelerator, and The Hunt Institute’s ElevateNC Cohort. Her accomplishments have earned her a range of recognitions, including the NCCU Alumni 40 Under 40 Award, the NC Association of County Commissioners Board Exemplary Service Award, the UNC Chapel Hill Harvey Beech Outstanding Young Alumni Award, the Triangle Business Journal 40 Under 40 Award, the Triangle Business Journal Women in Public Policy Award and the Spectacular Magazine Emerging Leader of the Year.  She currently sits on the NC Community College Foundation Board, the Research Triangle Regional Partnership Board as well as the Board of Visitors of North Carolina A&T State University.

About Habitat for Humanity of Durham: Habitat for Humanity of Durham is a nonprofit organization founded in 1985 that partners with local families and community supporters to build and renovate affordable homes. They are the local affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International. Working through volunteer labor and community support, Habitat Durham builds and repairs houses to serve local families in need. For more information, visit durhamhabitat.org.