INFORMATION FOR
For more than 13 years, Blair Schleicher Bravo ’95 has been the chief executive officer at Morris Habitat for Humanity in Randolph. “I’m responsible for leading an organization with lots of different people, supporters, families, donors, staff, board members, and leadership council members,” says Bravo. “Our vision is to make sure everyone in Morris County has a safe, decent, and affordable place to live.”
During her tenure at Habitat, Bravo developed and executed successful strategic business plans that have helped grow the organization tenfold. “We have an awesome team and we operate like a family,” she says. The organization works with more than 12,000 volunteers annually to find housing solutions through new, rehab and repair programs to help 30 to 60 families a year.
“I’m the kind of person who can bring really good people together to do the work,” she says. A combination of paid and unpaid staff working side by side, Bravo says the volunteers are paid with pizza, lots of thank yous, and gratitude. “They love it and keep coming back.”
Bravo says she feels “very humbled” at being honored as Distinguished Alumna by the William Paterson Foundation at its 27th annual Legacy Award Gala held in April 2017.
With more than 20 years’ experience in the affordable housing sector, she serves as a board member on several housing organizations. Prior to her role at Habitat, she was the program director at the housing project for Morris County where she ran and operated all the first-time home buyer programs for low and moderate-income households.
“I served as president of the League of Women Voters at one point, and we studied affordable housing in New Jersey in the early 1990s. I was always very interested in the political process and community issues. especially issues affecting people,” she explains. Active in her community of Mountain Lakes, Bravo served on planning and zoning boards, is a former four-term council member and served two terms as mayor and deputy mayor.
Supporting William Paterson, her alma mater, is a natural extension for Blair, whose career is dedicated to helping families attain the stability of having a home and building their future. She serves on the Dean’s Advisory Council for the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, initially as a founding member and continuing as a chair of the ambassadorship committee.
A non-traditional student who spent 25 years as a stay-at home mom, Bravo praises her experience at William Paterson. The enthusiasm of her professors and caliber of the staff at every level helped to welcome her back and obtain her BA degree in liberal studies – social sciences, she says. Bravo is married to Miguel Bravo and has four grown children and nine grandchildren.
“I hope to play a part in helping to raise the awareness of the accessible, affordable and quality education that William Paterson can offer students and their future through scholarships. I’m William Paterson’s biggest supporter,” she adds.
