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Cohort 7

Jurisdiction: City of Greensboro

University: UNC Greensboro

Hometown: Lanzhou, China

Jia Li Emaus the Lead for North Carolina Fellow with the City of Greensboro, working in the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department to advance housing policy, data transparency, and community outreach. She maintains and improves public dashboards for the Affordable Housing and Road to 10,000 Homes initiatives, ensuring information is accurate, cohesive, and accessible to residents. Jia also supports the Lead-Safe Housing and Housing Repair programs by managing grants, tracking data, coordinating neighborhood outreach, and guiding residents through application processes. Her work strengthens housing programs, promotes equitable neighborhood development, and fosters transparency between the city and its communities.

Born in China and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Jia graduated summa cum laude with Full University Honors from UNC Greensboro, earning degrees in Political Science and International Affairs and minors in Spanish and Chinese. As a Reynolds Scholar, Gilman Scholar, and member of Phi Beta Kappa and Pi Sigma Alpha, she studied abroad in Germany, published undergraduate research on local government responses to international conflict, and earned top honors, including the Provost Student Excellence Award and first place in the UNCG Gold Leadership Experience for her housing policy work. Her service and leadership experience include roles as a SECU Public Fellow for NCCJ, Democracy Fellow, Student Government Senator, Model UN VP, and ESL TA. Working in the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department, she hopes to build inclusive, people-centered solutions that strengthen communities in Greensboro.

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