Vanessa Levine

Executive Director of Renaissance

Vanessa Levine is the Executive Director of Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corporation (RNDC), a unique partnership between Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana and Volunteers of America National Services, created to develop replacement workforce rental housing in response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. Ms. Levine has been a part of the development success of Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corporation for over 10 years, starting as Development Manager before being promoted to Development Director and Executive Director in January of 2022.

Passionate and invested in the success and mission of Renaissance Neighborhood Development Corporation and its parent, Volunteers of America, to provide quality homes for the people of Louisiana, Ms. Levine has a proven track record of success in development and design over a 16-year career in architecture and real estate development. Ms. Levine is committed to lifelong learning, innovation, and the collaboration essential to achieve success in an ever-changing world. She strives for excellence in every task and leads others with respect and high expectations for productive and invested team success.

Prior to joining RNDC, Ms. Levine worked as an architectural associate at Billes Partners, where she worked with the Audubon Nature Institute on the Louisiana Nature Center in New Orleans East. In Berkeley, California, Ms. Levine worked as an Architectural Associate at McCamant and Durret Architects, designing affordable and senior cohousing neighborhoods on the West Coast. Early in her career, Ms. Levine interned at San Francisco Housing Action Coalition, advocating and working with developers and city regulatory agencies to promote affordable housing in San Francisco.

Ms. Levine is a registered Architect in the state of Louisiana as well as with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). She received her Bachelor of Science in Architecture and Master of Architecture with a concentration in Urban Design from The Catholic University of America in 2004 and 2006, respectively. Additionally, Ms. Levine was awarded The Henry Adams Certificate of Merit for excellence in the study of architecture and is a member of Tau Sigma Delta, Honor Society in Architecture and Allied Arts. She serves on the board the Greater New Orleans Housing Alliance (GNOHA) currently.

Personally, Ms. Levine is committed to supporting quality public education and youth programming in New Orleans. She is the proud mother of three sons ages, nine, nine, and seven. Ms. Levine is invested in the success of her sons and her sons’ peers, as she truly believes that children are the best investment in the future. Ms. Levine is an active member at Touro and Shir Chadash Synagogues, which she considers to be her religious homes. She is excited for the return of in-person volunteer and advocacy activities.