Jennifer Carter & Jose Ayala Awarded Prestigious Merritt Scholarship

The Merritt Scholars program is a statewide scholarship and mentorship program to attract the next generation of affordable housing finance and development professionals.

The program includes a $10,000 scholarship and access to a mentor, fully paid attendance at local and statewide industry conferences, and engagement with industry leaders. At the conclusion of the Program, Merritt may assist scholars in obtaining employment in the affordable housing industry.

Twenty Merritt Scholars are annually awarded to students in all of the CSUs, and this year a tenth of these went to two Sac State MPPS students.

Jose Ayala

Jose Ayala is a Housing Policy Specialist with the State Department of Housing and Community Development and entering his third and final year in the MPPA program. Jose has worked in the land use, planning, and community development field for five years. Jose is a proud recipient of the MPPA Program's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) scholarship in addition to his recent recognition as a Merritt Scholar.

Jennifer Carter

Jennifer Carter is a Master of Public Policy and Administration student at CSUS and works as an Associate Governmental Program Analyst at the California Natural Resources Agency. Prior to joining the State she worked at the county government level in Land Use, GIS, and IT. Jennifer received her B.S. in Anthropology and Geography, with a concentration in environmental studies and sustainability from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.