Building Community: Sarah Jemison’s Mission to Make Housing Affordable

Memphis has always been home for Sarah Jemison ’11, and she’s committed to keeping its homes affordable for the community she loves. 

Sarah is the Chief Strategy Officer and Board Chair of ALCO Management, a company that owns 6,000 apartment homes across nine states. In January 2026, Sarah will step into the CEO role at ALCO. Guided by empathy and a clear sense of purpose, Sarah is focused on expanding access to safe, affordable housing for families across the Southeast. 

“Our mission is to create quality affordable homes and quality jobs for the long term,” Sarah said. “My job is focused on quality jobs so that everybody else can provide quality homes.”

Sarah is steering ALCO toward a future of lasting impact. From shaping long-term growth to facilitating community engagement, her leadership drives property investments that enhance neighborhoods, foster a strong and connected workplace culture, and create new opportunities for families. Her work earned recognition earlier this year in Memphis Business Journal's Women Who Lead 2025. 

“Specifically, I work with our HR teams and learning and development teams to train and onboard employees, equipping and developing them for their careers,” Sarah said. 

Her commitment to this work is rooted in a deep devotion to Memphis. 

“I love Memphis,” Sarah said. “There is real power in being able to put roots in a place and have an impact.”

Fourteen years at St. Mary’s helped Sarah discover her purpose. 

“St. Mary’s taught me to think critically, understand where there’s a need, and how to step in and problem solve,” Sarah said. She also credits the school with sharpening her writing: “We have a funny running bit at ALCO that the two St. Mary’s graduates are the only ones who are allowed to be the final say on anything before it heads out.”

Above all, St. Mary’s gave her the confidence to aim high.

“St. Mary’s encouraged me to figure out what I want to do and how to do it,” Sarah said. “They helped me realize that I can do pretty much anything I put my mind to.”

Sarah earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University and joined ALCO Management in 2018. Since then, she has built a career defined by a clear mission: creating affordable homes and sustainable opportunities for communities she calls home.

Article by Wallis Rogin '25