Board Trustee Christopher J. Tyson (B.Arch. ’98), honored this year with the Alumni Award for Distinguished Postgraduate Achievement, credits Howard University for shaping his commitment to public service, a value that drives his leadership at the National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST).

In his role as president of NCST, Tyson spearheads initiatives to promote affordable homeownership, stabilize neighborhoods, build community wealth, and advance racial equity. NCST, a national housing and community development nonprofit, focuses on advocating for housing equity through lending and policy advocacy at the federal level.

“We were established after the mortgage crisis to help facilitate the backlog of foreclosed mortgage properties and return them to affordable housing,” Tyson said. “Over the last 16 years, we've completed more than 28,000 transactions.”

Tyson's passion for public service was kindled at Howard University, his dream school. He pursued an undergraduate degree in architecture, later attending Harvard Kennedy School and Georgetown University Law Center to further his education.

At Howard, Tyson found a supportive, intellectually rigorous environment that pushed him to grow. “Howard was an incredible experience, both academically and personally,” he reflected. “In addition to what I received in the classroom, which all prepared me to go into my field, it was an opportunity to explore different aspects of myself and grow in an incredibly supportive and nurturing environment.”

More than just an education, Howard gave Tyson a lifelong network of peers and mentors who continue to influence his career.

“I was in the company of an incredibly talented class of individuals who have gone on to do amazing things,” Tyson said. “We have a network, a family, a community that continues to power my career and power my life.”

Tyson's professional path was also shaped by his experiences during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, one of the deadliest and most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history. As a third-year law student at Georgetown, he worked in Louisiana Senator Mary Landrieu's office, assisting with crisis response efforts. He found himself on the front lines, helping displaced families navigate bureaucratic obstacles while coordinating relief services for those who had lost everything.

The calls that came into the office were overwhelming — people stranded on rooftops, families searching for missing loved ones, and evacuees desperately seeking resources. One moment that stayed with him was when a psychologist from New Orleans broke down in tears during a meeting, overwhelmed by the suffering he had witnessed.

Despite the chaos and emotional toll, Tyson remained committed to helping however he could. He endured verbal outbursts from grieving callers, understanding that their frustration was aimed at the system, not at him personally. That year of service shaped his lifelong commitment to urban redevelopment and racial equity in housing, influencing his decision to return to Louisiana to work on community development projects.

Today, as the head of NCST, Tyson continues the work he first encountered during Katrina—helping families and communities access stable, affordable housing. His experiences navigating the immediate housing crisis post-Katrina inform his leadership in addressing systemic racial inequities in homeownership and urban planning.

Through NCST, Tyson is ensuring that communities of color and underserved neighborhoods have pathways to economic stability and generational wealth. His journey from Howard to leading a national nonprofit exemplifies the Howard University motto: Excellence in Truth and Service.

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