Finding Her Passion

Kelle Senyé Works to Provide Affordable Housing For All

By Todd Fuqua

Since the COVID-19 pandemic reached the United States at the beginning of 2020, the term “shelter in place” has been used repeatedly in an attempt to keep people from congregating, slow the spread and save lives.

But some have found it’s hard to shelter if they don’t have a shelter to call home. That’s why Kelle (Westerfield) Senyé (BFA 93) has worked so hard to create affordable housing opportunities for as many people as she can.

“Housing in general has moved to the forefront of the conversation because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kelle says. “I can very easily get on my soapbox about this.”

Based in Albuquerque, Kelle was the executive director of the Apartment Association of New Mexico for nine years, and most recently joined the Institute for Real Estate Management’s local board. She has also received training to help establish a real estate certificate program at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), facilitating professional development courses for property management for 15 years.

Additionally, Kelle has been accepted as an instructor at CNM and will conduct a virtual course starting in September. All of this is to further an understanding of fair housing, which she calls “vital to our industry.”

She is also part of the Greater Albuquerque Housing Partnership (GAHP) as the director of asset management. A nonprofit developer, GAHP works to create affordable communities for residents making less than the average household income.

“We immediately recognized that many of our residents were going to be particularly vulnerable when the Governor’s public health order resulted in employees losing hours or jobs as businesses cut back or closed altogether,” Kelle said. “We were affected, too, but were fortunate to acquire local funding through our city council to cover some of the rent loss from the plan. That money is extremely important in preventing residents from having their rent simply deferred. We felt strongly that deferment would set them up for greater hardships in the future.”

A theater major while at ENMU, Kelle said the biggest impression her alma mater has made on her has been the connections she made while a student.

“Those connections have been strong and have been a resource for me on several occasions,” Kelle said.

It’s been a long journey from the stage of the University Theatre Center to helping to secure affordable housing in New Mexico’s largest city, but it’s a journey made a bit easier by her time at Eastern.

“Nobody seems to say, ‘when I get grow up, I want to be a property manager.’ I certainly didn’t,” Kelle said. “But I would say to students now, don’t turn away from an opportunity that doesn’t fit squarely within what you think you want to do. You will be amazed at your undiscovered passions.”