Diversity training

Gov. Eric Holcomb last week named Karrah A. Herring, 38, the state's first chief equity, inclusion and opportunity officer. It was an understated announcement, delivered in the midst of a pandemic, but the move is a positive one for a state that has struggled with diversity among high-level decision-makers in Indianapolis.

“My goal is to better build diversity and foster an inclusive environment within state government and the services we provide so every Hoosier can take full advantage of their gifts and potential,” Holcomb said in a statement. “Karrah will guide every state agency with her impressive experience at one of our state's world-renowned universities.”

Herring since 2011 has been the director of public affairs for the University of Notre Dame, where she worked to ensure compliance with government rules prohibiting discrimination, harassment and retaliation. She created the university's affirmative action plans and oversaw workplace investigations on discrimination.

“I am honored to join Gov. Holcomb's administration and be named the state's first chief equity, inclusion and opportunity officer,” Herring said in the statement. “This is an incredible opportunity to drive cultural change across state government workplaces and essential state services by increasing equity and inclusion.”

The appointment fulfills a campaign promise from Holcomb, who announced in August he would name a diversity chief following social justice protests in Indiana cities including Fort Wayne. The hope is the cabinet post will be the catalyst to get “to the root causes of inequities” the governor referenced this summer.

White men hold most of the seats at the Statehouse and in Holcomb's cabinet. Just 33 of Indiana's 150 lawmakers are women, and 13 legislators are Black, according to Capitol & Washington, a website that tracks demographic trends in government.

Four of the governor's 18 cabinet officials are Black. Six are women. 

Several states including Virginia, Massachusetts and New Jersey have chief diversity officials, but colleges and universities have been among the leaders in recognizing a need to reexamine approaches to culture and race in their organizations.

In northeast Indiana, Ivy Tech, Indiana Tech, the University of Saint Francis, Manchester University and Grace College each has an executive-level diversity officer. Purdue University Fort Wayne on Monday interviewed the last of three finalists for its diversity officer, and officials hope to have someone on the job in early January.

Jerry Lewis, PFW vice chancellor for communications and marketing, has led the search committee for the new hire and said creating the position was a goal of a strategic planning process. The officer will work in many areas, including recruiting and keeping students enrolled, he said.

“This will be somebody who influences what we do, across the board,” Lewis said.

Brian Engelhart, an Indiana Tech spokesman, said focusing on diversity and inclusion “helps us serve students more effectively and helps us continue to attract bright minds” to the university, which hired Associate Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Lisa Givan in 2018. Givan's impact is noteworthy, Engelhart said, and was visible during a Black Lives Matter protest on campus in August, when she bluntly questioned whether most whites in the U.S. would trade lives with Blacks.

“Through her work, and the influential role she plays, students know that they and their perspectives, needs and interests are recognized and valued here,” Engelhart said in an email.

“At the same time, she's created professional development opportunities for faculty and staff around topics related to diversity and inclusion that enable us to serve all of our students more effectively, and to support one another in our work each day.”

Inclusion, equity and diversity are not unique Indiana problems, but the governor's action has made addressing those issues here a priority – one long past due. And our colleges and universities have provided a model the state can use to move forward.