The National American Indian Housing Council named Mellor Willie, a member of the Navajo Nation, as its executive director.

Willie was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation. This past May, he became the first Native American to graduate from the George Washington University’s Graduate School of Political Management.

"I am passionate about the housing issues that affect Native communities and I am very proud to help further the work of the National American Indian Housing Council,” Willie said in a press release.

Prior to joining NAIHC, Willie worked for the National Congress of American Indians in Washington, D.C.