The Atlanta Regional Commission today announced that Ann Carpenter has been named the agency’s Chief Research & Innovation Officer (CRIO), following a national search. In this role, Carpenter will join ARC’s Executive Leadership team and oversee ARC’s Research & Analytics Department, guiding the agency’s efforts to integrate data-driven insights into regional planning and strategic decision-making. The CRIO will play a pivotal role in shaping ARC’s long-term vision and aligning research with public policy priorities.

Carpenter comes to ARC from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, where she served as Assistant Vice President and Director of Community Development Research. In that role, Carpenter led a team of subject matter experts and analysts working on issues that included affordable housing, workforce development, digital access, and community resilience.

“We are excited to welcome Ann to the ARC family,” said ARC Board Chair Andre Dickens, who also serves as Mayor of the City of Atlanta. “She is a trusted authority on many of the big challenges facing our region. Her insights and expertise will help move our region forward.”

Carpenter holds a Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning from Georgia Tech and a B.A. in Architecture from the University of Michigan. Prior to her time at the Federal Reserve, Carpenter spent 12 years at the Georgia Tech Research Institute.

“Ann is a strong leader who brings a unique combination of subject matter expertise, technical know-how, and passion for the Atlanta region,” Anna Roach, ARC Executive Director & CEO.

Carpenter has experience collaborating with ARC. At the Federal Reserve, she led a team that worked with ARC to develop an eviction tracker data tool that was used by policymakers during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also sat on the Advisory Board of the Atlanta Regional Housing Forum, which is co-hosted by ARC.

“I am excited to join the talented team at ARC and work across the agency to make metro Atlanta a better place to live,” Carpenter said. “I look forward to focusing my efforts on the Atlanta region, a place that I love and care about deeply.”

Carpenter is active in the Atlanta civic community. She serves as Board Secretary of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership, Inc., a nonprofit group that works to provide affordable housing options. She also serves on Urban Land Institute of Atlanta’s Advisory Council, where she co-chairs the Technical Assistance Panel.