Diversity Features

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission

The North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC), a state government agency created by the General Assembly in 1947 to conserve and sustain the State’s fish and wildlife resources, provides programs and opportunities that allow hunters, anglers, boaters, and other outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy wildlife-associated recreation. In accordance with our EEO Plan, NCWRC strives to enhance cross-cultural understanding to mitigate racial, ethnic, and gender stereotypes. This objective is reflected in our engagement with underrepresented groups across NC and in strategic recruitment efforts focused on maintaining a culture of community and trust, understanding that the path to true diversity and inclusion begins with us.

Pictured left to right:

From the left: Monique Bloomfield – Lead Talent Acquisition Specialist; Patricia Barnes – HR Administrative Specialist; Shannon Bryant – Deputy HR Director; Georgia MacBride – HR Director; Althea Trantham – Employee Relations/EEO Specialist; Sheree Berry – Benefits Specialist; Lenora Murphy – Talent Acquisition Specialist; Jordan Lassiter – Classification & Compensation Consultant. Not pictured: Luis Suau – Agency Diversity & Inclusion Program Coordinator.

North Carolina Department of Public Instruction

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) provides leadership and support to 115 local public-school districts, over 2,500 district public schools, and 200+ charter schools.  Our HR team is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful workplace for the NCDPI community. While our agency focuses on implementing public school laws for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, the entire HR team seeks to ensure fairness in recruitment and salary administration, benefits administration, D&I and employment policies. DPI recognizes the value of diverse perspectives in addressing daily challenges and aligns its efforts with the State Superintendent’s and Board of Education’s mission to support public education for all NC students.

Pictured left to right:

Front row:  Janet Blount, Director of Human Resources and Teresa Everett, Deputy Director of Human Resources Middle row: Judith Bradshaw, ER/EEO Consultant, Sheila Fletcher, Class/Comp Consultant, Tracy Batts, HR Generalist, and Sharon Wooten, Benefits Consultant Back row: Houston Davis, Recruitment/Salary Administration, Steven Oberhausen, HR Operations/Training, Alberson Pineda Urrego, HR Technician and Brian Conyers, Time/Leave Consultant Not pictured: Johnna Stephenson, Class/Comp (Temp Retiree) and Valerie Richardson, Recruiter (Temp/Retiree)

North Carolina Office of the State Controller

The North Carolina Office of the State Controller recognizes that true belonging is one of the key elements of engagement and peak performance. That is why OSC HR ensures that every employee at OSC, regardless of demographic descriptors, feels valued and receives fair treatment in all aspects of work life while fostering a respectful and productive environment. OSC HR extends this to its recruiting and hiring practices to make sure we are employing the best possible candidates to serve North Carolina.

From the left:  Glenda Ellerbee – Human Resources Director, Mollie Schnell – Human Resources Consultant, Pamela Hamm – Human Resources Consultant II, Elaine Kubich – Human Resources Consultant

North Carolina Community Colleges System Office

The North Carolina Community Colleges System Office is striving to create a sense of belonging for all employees.  We make every effort to recognize all communities within the System Office and the community at large.  We actively celebrate all ethnicities, as well as military and LGBTQIA+ communities.  We celebrate and highlight our employees to foster an inclusive and respectful work community.  In addition, we are seeking to create and maintain a diverse workforce through our engagement and recruitment efforts.  

From the left:  Magnolia Lugo - HR Director, Paul Makowski - HR Consultant, Veronica Watson - Assistant HR Director

NC Department of Labor

The NCDOL is committed to fostering a safe, healthy, fair and productive North Carolina.  This starts with keeping DE&I at the forefront of all our practices from recruiting, training and development, managing performance, and more.  We know that we must recruit, build, and equip the most qualified staff from various backgrounds with diverse perspectives, then allow them to develop further and advance while continuing to provide a fair and inclusive environment.  We believe our mission is carried out most effectively when we value our most important resource, which is our NCDOL workforce. 

Top Photo, Left to Right: Darolyn Sutton, Administrative Specialist and Angela Hamilton, EEO Officer.  Bottom Photo, Left to Right: Beth Benson, Assistant HR Director, Crystal Williams, HR Generalist, Kyla Virden, Administrative Specialist, and Stacey Thompson, HR Consultant

North Carolina Education Lottery

The Lottery is committed to the principles of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  We strive to incorporate these values into every aspect of our business, including our work with employees, players and vendors.  We firmly believe our organization, its products, and suppliers should reflect the people that we serve—the citizens of North Carolina.  Our Diversity Champions who represent every department at the Lottery are tasked with identifying opportunities to expand our reach to diverse suppliers.  This group also provides input on employee diversity initiatives.

Pictured left to right:

Dr. Cheryl Sutton, Director of Supplier Diversity and Outreach. Leigh Warren, Corp. Social Resp Manager. Tabitha Powell,  Scratch-off Games Coordinator. Nouni Wise, Digital Project Manager. Damen Harris, Director of MIS. Joe Norman, Director of Gaming Systems. Jorge Alfonso, Information Security Manager. Susan Singley,  Director of Advertising. Liz Buono, Administrative Operations Manager. Jennifer James, Talent Acquisition & Development Manager.

Not pictured: 

Bobby Dawson, Corporate Accounts Manager. Sharon Jacobs,  Internal Audit Assistant. Kimberlee Petersen, Retail Accountant. David Wright, Computing Services Technician I. Hayden Bauguess, Director of Government Affairs. 

NCCU

At North Carolina Central University (NCCU), our Department of Diversity, the Office of Human Resources, and Employee Relations & Equal Employment Opportunity Office collectively embrace diversity as the recognition and celebration of the rich tapestry of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives that our staff, faculty and students bring to our institution.

It means fostering an inclusive environment where every individual – regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic background or other characteristic – feels valued and empowered. Our HR – ER and EEO Office is committed to promoting equity, providing equal opportunities and creating a vibrant, inclusive campus community that reflects the strength of diversity in higher education.

Pictured from left to right:

Maggy Sivansay – Human Resources Consultant, Employee Relations & Equal Employment Opportunity 

Delores Harris - Director, Employee Relations & Equal Employment Opportunity

Emily Guzman, Director of Diversity and Inclusion

James Staton – Human Resources Consultant, Employee Relations & Equal Employment Opportunity

Michael Hill – Chief Human Resources Officer

NC Department of Justice

They believe that they best serve a diverse public and produce their best work with a workforce comprised of people with different backgrounds. This is achieved through

 fair hiring practices, outreach to underrepresented groups, and ongoing training initiatives.  Diversity and Inclusion are not just buzzwords; it is a fundamental value that guides NCDOJ.

Committee Members:  Adrina Bass, Frances Beckman, Francisco Benzoni, Kristen Bierline, Tonya Bowlding, Kayla Britt, Dilcy Burton, Kelly Chambers, Leslie Cooley Dismukes, Jessica Coudriet, William Flowers, Ramona Higgins, Sharon Hinton, Kristopher Joyce, Jasmine McGhee, Brenda Menard, Tracy Nayer, Amalia Restucha, Lisa Sasser, Todd Self,  Nicole Smith, Jennifer Sugar, Amanda Thompson,  Dawn Thornton,  Melissa Walker, Julynn Washington, Tin Wong.

The Department of Health and Human Services 

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) intentionally promotes an inclusive, equitable workplace that reflects the communities we serve, where everyone feels a sense of belonging, and our diverse backgrounds and experiences are valued and recognized as strengths.

We also explore data surrounding hiring, separations, and disciplinary actions. We intentionally disaggregate existing data and utilize EEO data to explore trends and other factors impacting hiring among various demographics in our workforce. Our steadfast efforts ensure we have the most diverse staff.

Left to Right: EEO Investigator Linda Washington, Deputy Secretary Angela Bryant and EEO Director Darnell Thoms. 

Not Pictured: DEI Director Dr. Bryle Henderson Hatch, Chief DEI Officer Jessica Springs. 

Photo Credit: Benjamin Thoms                 

Elizabeth City State University

The ECSU EEO/DEI team prioritizes diversity and inclusion principles by embracing the unique identities of our campus' faculty, staff and students with an open mind and willingness to cultivate understanding and belonging. Through professional development and training opportunities, heritage and cultural recognition and outreach, and equitable policy development and enforcement, we deliver on our strategic priorities of building an inclusive campus community where diverse viewpoints, experiences, and backgrounds are welcomed and respected.

Left to Right: Paula Gassaway, Human Resources Consultant, Tiffany Hinton, Assistant Vice Chancellor/Chief Diversity Officer, Beverly Bowe-Barnett, Human Resources Specialist, Shamica Lane, Assistant Vice Chancellor / Chief Human Resources Officer, Regina Ferebee, Human Resources Specialist, Deneal Banks, Human Resource Specialist, Tamisha James-Goff, Human Resources Specialist.

Department of Revenue

At NCDOR, we engaged in purposeful introspection about our own Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts and conversations about our role as public servants. We are committed to prioritizing the work of engagement, equity, diversity, and inclusion across our organization. We understand that this work is ongoing and takes time, and we remain committed to making a positive impact on our culture and communities. In order to make meaningful change, DEI must be threaded into the fabric of everything we do.  

Pictured from left to right: Tanya Dearmon, DEI Analyst; Angelina Harvey, DEI Managing Partner; Harlan Frye, HR Director; Eileen Sinclair, DEI Administrator; Cheryl Benedetto, DEI Managing Partner, and Linda Coleman, DEI Agency Strategist. Not pictured is JoAnne Johnson, DEI Data Analyst

UNC Charlotte

UNC Charlotte’s practice of inclusive excellence is inseparable from the University's mission and vision. It is essential for us as an office to work alongside our peers to ensure that each member of our community has the full opportunity to access and thrive on campus. Regardless of how a person self-identifies or what they believe, UNC Charlotte’s common ground will always be a shared belief in humanity, care, and dignity for all.

Pictured from left to right: Nikki Kawalec, Executive Assistant; Tehia Glass, Professor and Executive Fellow for Faculty Development; Kerrie Stewart, Social Research Specialist; Brandon L. Wolfe, Chief Diversity Officer; Erika Shelton, Summer Graduate Intern; Kendra Jason, Executive Fellow of Strategic Initiatives

NCDOT’s Office of Civil Rights

EEO strives to ensure no disparate treatment, impact, or adverse actions while monitoring efforts to reach parity of females and minorities.  OCR’s primary focus is Diversity throughout NCDOT and is involved in many DE&I efforts such as The Allyship Collective which partners with diverse communities to bridge resources and community support, and The Emerging Talent Program, an HR / OCR initiative aimed at increasing workforce talent in the transportation industry.

Pictured: Seated: Right to left: Bentley Simms (EEO), Elizabeth Wilson (EEO), Leslie Arias (OCR) / Standing: Right to left Benny Sloan (OCR), Bridgette Jenkins (OCR), Juan Conde (OCR), Charlotte McKenzie-Hunter (OCR), Tunya Smith (OCR Director), Nicole Ingram (EEO), Irene Diaz-Clark (OCR), Jorgelia Nino (OCR), Tim Moore (OCR), Mark Whisenant (EEO/OCR)Not pictured: Jacquay Bland (EEO), Dr. Ayanna Wallace (OCR), Ashley Council (OCR), Garrick Witherspoon (OCR), Valisha Wallace (OCR), Darlene Harris (OCR), Pandora Broadwater (OCR), Elizabeth Cruz (OCR), Latega Powell (OCR), Lisa Wilson (OCR), Laura Jimenez (OCR), Reginald McNeill (OCR), Tonya Marriott (OCR Dep. Director), Ebony Pittman (Deputy Sec. for Business Administration)

Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM)

The new HR Director for the Office of State Budget and Management (OSBM), Patty Garcia, believes D&I is important to engaging employees by ensuring our staff feels included, heard, respected, and valued.  She joined a dynamic organization developing its D&I workforce with innovation, excellence, and teamwork.  OSBM celebrates individual and collective differences and strengths, and treats all staff with respect, dignity and professionalism. OSBM has an active Diversity and Cultural Awareness Committee leading education and annual celebrations including the Lunar New Year, Diwali and Juneteenth.

Back Row (left to right): Grace Hardwick, Nicolas Norboge, Brea Bennett-Bell, Ben Agsten, Hallee Haygood, Rachel Stallings,

Patty Garcia, Veronica Patterson, Christopher Soto, Izzi Hernandez-Cruz, Cole Justad, Lanier McRee

Middle Row (left to right): Candace Rheaume, Mike Arnold (COO), Tim Griffith, Megan Bartee, Barbara Baldwin,

Kristin Walker (Director), Anca Grozav (Chief Deputy Director), Jenni Owen, Shoua Loa, Peter Kane, Marcia Evans, Mei Ingram

Front Row (left to right):  Cole Jordan, Keegan Huynh, Ruth Wygle, Jessica Robinson, Melissa Roark, Jack Gagnon, Brian Farmer

NC Department of Environmental Quality

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee supports DEQ’s vision of cultivating a work environment in which all individuals are respected and valued.  The agency strives to be transparent and accountable, to seek equitable outcomes through inclusive processes, and to lead with personal and professional integrity. There is a collective responsibility to foster a culture of respect, fairness, and inclusion for all DEQ employees and for the North Carolina communities served.

(From the left):  Sam Mellott, Lisa Tolley, Andria Knight, Melissa Joyner, Carolina Fonseca Jimenez, Linwood Peele, Steven Rice, Christy Simmons Not pictured:  Miguel Alvalle, Aditi Chakravarty

University of North Carolina School of the Arts

At UNCSA, this team strives to create a safe environment, one that allows people from all walks of life to thrive. Doing so demands that staff commit to an explicit and continual process of identifying and dismantling systems and practices of bias, exclusion, and oppression. Education and art-making can be transformational forces for change and UNCSA is working so that change leads toward justice.

Front row, from the left:

Tracey Ford, Vice Provost and Dean of Student Affairs; Lissy Garrison, Vice Chancellor for Advancement; Patrick Sims, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, Brian Cole, Chancellor; Karen Beres, Vice Provost and Dean of Academic Affairs; Wendy Emerson, Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance & Administration; Jim DeCristo, Vice Chancellor for Economic Development, Chief of Staff

Back row:

Claire Machamer, Vice Chancellor for Strategic Communications; Kemora Brownlee, Leave Administrator; Tasha Myers, Director of Intercultural Engagement; Aretha Sutton, Talent Solutions Manager

Not Pictured:

Angela Mahoney, Associate Vice Chancellor and Chief Human Resources Officer; Camilla Norris, Employee Relations Manager; Susan Porter, HRIS Manager; and Cappi Shelton, Temporary Employment Specialist, and Office Manager

Photo Credit: 

Kathryn McMillan, Assistant Vice Provost for Strategic Planning & Operations

The University of North Carolina at Pembroke

UNCP has a history of being an agent for social change, equity and inclusion. Our team of EEO/DEI professionals is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We believe diversity grounds intellectual pursuits and provides opportunities for discovery and strategies to integrate all individuals and groups into the larger community, respecting and valuing their uniqueness while simultaneously advancing the University's historical tradition. We prepare students for life and leadership within a diverse society and to change the lives of our constituents.

Pictured:

Front row, from the left: Kelley Koch, HR Specialist; Angela Revels, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Human Resources; Rhonda Locklear, Human Resources Manager, Donna Strickland, Deputy Chief HR Officer, Kasey Jones, HR Specialist

Back row: Sheila Hardee, HR Consultant; Sarah Hunt, HR Specialist; Becky Thompson, HR Consultant, Joanne McMillan, HR Consultant; Dr. Nicolette Campos, Director of Employee Relations and Workforce Development; Nicole Snipes, HR Consultant

Not pictured: Paula Peterson-Campbell, HR Specialist; Debbie Chaves, Technology Support Analyst - HRIS Manager

NC Department of Administration

The NC Department of Administration values diversity, equity and inclusion as a top priority. Through the re-establishment of the Andrea Harris Social, Economic, Environmental and Health Equity Task Force, the Department will continue its initiative to address disparities in communities of color while working to build and strengthen relationships between community leaders and state employees. DOA offers educational programming, virtual Lunch and Learns for business groups and plans to establish more Employee Resource Groups to join its existing Veterans and Emerging Professionals groups. Prioritizing belonging, respect and integrity, DOA continues its advocacy for equity and inclusion in North Carolina.

Pictured (from the left):

Samanta Noyola, Comfort Johnson, Beth Carpenter, Donya Strong, Haley Pfieffer-Haynes, David Elliot, Mark Edwards, Gianna Quilici, Evin Grant, Jordan Hanna

Not pictured: Lauren Scott

North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

At NC A&T State University, they celebrate and honor DEIB on a daily basis. The blending of student and employee identities supports our desire for inclusiveness for all. The Director of Employee Relations/Affirmative Action Officer upholds these practices in collaboration with the Executive Diversity and Inclusion Officer, and other internal key partners in the Division of Human Resources focusing on employment-related functions, advocacy, engagement, training, and education. They are working together with the campus to create a sense of belonging that ensures everyone has the opportunity to be authentic and fulfilled. 

Pictured:

Front Row: Samuel Richards (Director of Academic Affairs for HR), Veronica Sills (CHRO), Marcie Rowdy (Benefits Manager), Linda Mangum (Director of Employee Relations/AAO), Jeanette Foulks (Benefits), Cynthia Reed (Employee Relations), Maurice Warren (HRIS Manager).

Second Row: Michael Terrell (Employee Relations), Ebony Pritchard (CLOE), Tia Uitenham (HRIS), Heather White (Administration), Rebecca Borders (Class and Comp), Penny Smith (Talent Solutions), Del Ruff (Executive Director DEIB).

Third Row: David Leonard (Director of CLOE), Natalie Jacobs (Temporary Talent Manager), Janet Carlson (CLOE), Shretha Arrington (Leave Administrator), Lynn Farrar (Talent Solutions), Montria SimrelWright (Academic Affairs HR), Juanita King (Benefits), Lonnie Crotts (Class and Comp).

NC State University – Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity

Their team celebrates DEIB every day through the narratives they elevate, the education they deliver, and the support and advocacy they provide. They maximize the collective intersections they hold while simultaneously affirming them as vital, necessary and celebrated! They are a team of organizers, allies, and educators that takes great pride in striving to ensure that their constituents recognize their own contribution to the beautiful community that makes NC State University extraordinary!

Pictured:

Front row, left to right: Hayley Gallagher, Business Officer; Melvin "Jai" Jackson, Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Engagement; Sheri Schwab, Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer; Stephanie Helms Pickett, Associate Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence and Strategic Practice; David Elrod, Associate Vice Provost for Equal Opportunity and Equity. 

Second Row: Jacqueline Perry, Communications Director, Lisa LaBarbera-Mascote, Senior Director of Campus Community Centers; Janine Kossen, Director of the Women's Center; Melissa Edwards Smith, Director of Community Engagement and Outreach; Dave Johnson, Director of Multicultural Student Affairs. 

Third Row:  Alisha Foster, Executive Assistant; angela gay-audre, Director of the African American Cultural Center.