Donna J. Gambrell

Treasury Secretary Henry M. Paulson, Jr. appointed Donna J. Gambrell to serve as Director of Treasury's Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Fund effective November 26, 2007

Before coming to the CDFI Fund, Gambrell served as Deputy Director of Consumer Protection and Community Affairs in the Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). She oversaw the FDIC’s national community affairs, consumer affairs and deposit insurance outreach programs. As such, she managed initiatives related to reaching underserved populations; providing guidance to consumers on current issues such as identity theft, subprime and predatory lending and credit card debt; and increasing the public’s understanding of and confidence in the banking system.

Previously, at the request of former FDIC Chairman Donald E. Powell, she served 18 months in the Gulf Coast Region (from February 2006 to August 2007) –as part of a temporary assignment—working on rebuilding initiatives in the wake of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, which struck the region in 2005. Mr. Powell is Coordinator of the Federal Support for the Recovery and Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast Region.

Ms. Gambrell worked onsite in Louisiana and Mississippi spearheading partnerships among financial institutions, government agencies and community-based organizations to promote community and economic development in areas devastated by the hurricanes, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods.

Ms. Gambrell began her career with the FDIC in April 1991 as a Community Affairs Officer in the agency's New York Region. She served in increasingly responsible compliance and consumer protection positions at the Corporation, and in May 2000 was promoted to Deputy Director.

Prior to joining the FDIC, Ms. Gambrell worked at the Resolution Trust Corporation (1989-1991), the Federal Savings and Loan Insurance Corporation (1987-1989), and the U.S. General Accounting Office (1979-1987).

Ms. Gambrell received a B.S. Degree from Towson State University, Baltimore, Maryland, and an MS Degree from New York University. In 2004, she received a National Public Service Award for her innovative work over the years in formulating public-private partnerships.