Albuquerque Strengthens Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness with Key Leadership Appointments

Albuquerque residents will benefit from strengthened leadership at the Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness (HHH) as the City welcomes two new employees to guide its most critical human services work. Lisa Glow has been appointed Executive Director of the Gateway System of Care, and J. Jordan Barela will serve as Deputy Director of Housing Initiatives and Community Development. Together, they bring deep expertise in homeless services and affordable housing – crucial pillars of HHH’s mission to improve quality of life for every Albuquerque resident.

“These appointments reflect our commitment to putting the right people in place so that Albuquerque’s most vulnerable residents get the services and support they deserve,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Lisa, Jo, and Jordan each bring proven track records of building systems that work, managing resources responsibly, and keeping people at the center of everything they do.”

“Our department’s commitment to getting people off the streets, into stable housing, and connected to behavioral health care depends entirely on strong leadership at every level,” said Gilbert Ramirez, Director of the Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness. “Lisa will lead our Gateway system with advocacy instincts and nonprofit expertise, Jordan brings a blueprint-level understanding of how affordable housing actually gets built and financed, and Jo will ensure the financial foundation is strong enough to support it all. This team is ready to deliver.”

Serving at the Executive Director for the Gateway System of Care, Lisa Glow brings an exceptional combination of legal expertise, nonprofit executive leadership, and systems-level advocacy to the Gateway System of Care, the City’s coordinated network of shelter, outreach, and supportive housing services for people experiencing homelessness.

Most recently, Glow served as Chief Executive Officer of Central Arizona Shelter Services, where she led a major organizational turnaround of one of the largest homeless service providers in the region. Under her leadership, the organization built more than $24 million in assets, expanded shelter capacity for adults by 28%, and established a new 170-bed hotel shelter to serve aging adults. Her advocacy work helped secure more than $80 million in statewide homelessness funding, including a $60 million Homeless Shelter and Services Fund in 2023.

Earlier in her career, Glow served as Director and Senior Policy Adviser in the Arizona Governor’s Office for Children, Youth and Families, where she managed 53 employees and oversaw millions in federal and state grant distributions to nonprofits and government agencies. She also served in the Arizona Attorney General’s Office as Special Counsel for Children and Families and as Chief Counsel for the Office for Women.

Glow holds a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, with distinction, from the University of Arizona.

Jo Ann Rowe joins HHH as the Fiscal Manager for the Department, bringing more than two decades of public sector financial leadership to a department that manages a complex portfolio of federal grants, affordable housing programs, and social services funding.

Rowe has served as Fiscal Manager and Finance Division Manager for the City of Albuquerque’s Parks and Recreation Department since 2021, overseeing a budget and finance portfolio of $418 million including 210 capital improvement projects, 19 competitive grants, and multiple fund types across one of the City’s largest departments. Prior to joining the City, she served as Budget Administrator for Santa Fe County, where she maintained a county budget of $370 million, and as Director of Financial Services for Doña Ana County, where she oversaw internal auditing, purchasing, accounting, grants, and payroll for budget services totaling $102 million.

Rowe holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University, along with two Associate’s degrees in Accounting Technology and Business Administration from Polk State College. She is a Certified Public Manager and Certified Supervisory Manager.Jordan Barela brings deep, hands-on expertise in affordable housing policy, HUD programs, and community development to HHH, stepping into the Deputy Director role overseeing the City’s housing initiatives and Community Development division.

Most recently, Barela served as County Manager of Torrance County since September 2024, overseeing all county operations and departments. He also served as Executive Director of the Santa Fe County Housing Authority, a role he held since July 2021, managing eight HUD housing programs, four County-funded affordable housing programs, and a portfolio of three public housing developments totaling 198 residential units with an annual budget of approximately $12 million.

Throughout his career, Barela has administered HUD Continuum of Care, Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher, Capital Fund, and CDBG programs. He played a central role in the adoption of Santa Fe County’s 2024 Affordable Housing Plan, drafted the County’s Housing Assistance Grants and Loans Ordinance, and served as lead project manager on Santa Fe County’s first Low-Income Housing Tax Credit development, Nueva Acequia, currently under construction in the City of Santa Fe. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of New Mexico. Barela begins June 15.

The Department of Health, Housing & Homelessness strives to improve the quality of life for everyone in Albuquerque by supporting behavioral health, public health initiatives, affordable housing, and homeless services. For more information, visit the Health, Housing, and Homelessness site or call 311.