Leadership Team

Chanosha N. Lawton currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer for the Aiken Housing Authority. Mrs. Lawton holds a Master’s of Education with a concentration of Counseling and Psychology from Troy State University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of South Carolina-Columbia. Her professional career consists of over twenty (20) plus years of experience as a results-oriented team player and noteworthy leader in the arenas of Conventional Low-Rent Public Housing, Workforce Development, and Human Services. Professionally she holds several industry-recognized practitioner certifications within the aforementioned arenas, including  Juvenile Arbitrator, Aiken County Government-Solicitor’s Office; Career Development Facilitator (CDF), National Career Development Association; Social Services Specialist, Division of Family and Children Services; Public Housing Rent Calculation Specialist, Nan McKay; and Public Housing Manager (PHM), National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) and the Executive Director Management Certification from Rutgers University.

Nikia Carter currently serves as the Director of Human Resources and Operations for the Aiken Housing Authority. Ms. Carter has been with the Housing Authority for over ten (10) years and has contributed greatly to each role and capacity that she has served.  Ms. Carter has successfully achieved notable industry-recognized practitioner certifications, including Public Housing Manager Specialist, Housing Quality Standards Inspector, Blended Public Housing, Housing Choice Voucher Income and Rent Training, LIHTC Property Compliance, Grant Writing, and SC Notary. Among her many achievements and accolades, Ms. Carter obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Limestone University and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from South University.

Debra K. Young currently serves as the Housing Choice Voucher Director at the Aiken Housing Authority. Prior to joining the Aiken Housing Authority, Ms. Young worked at the SC Regional Housing Authority #3 as a Section 8 Supervisor. Notable is her 20-plus years of experience in the Affordable Housing Industry. Ms. Young graduated from Denmark Technical College with an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration.

Professionally Ms. Young holds several industry-recognized practitioner certifications, including Housing Quality Standards Specialist, Section 8 Occupancy Specialist, Housing Choice Voucher Specialist, and Housing Choice Voucher Executive Management.

Dana Blair serves as the Compliance Administrator for the Aiken Housing Authority. An Aiken native, Dana has engaged with various organizations throughout the state of South Carolina to be a voice for the voiceless within her community. Since her tenure, Ms. Blair has served in several capacities and has remarkably, transformed many programs in connection to the agency’s Property Management and Maintenance Departments. Ms. Blair has attended and successfully completed several industry recognized practitioner trainings to include LIHTC Property Compliance, HUD Housing Counseling, Procurement and Contract Management, and Maintenance Management. Majoring in Mathematics, Ms. Blair attended South Carolina State University.