Gov. Pritzker Announces Appointment of Dr. Sekile M. Nzinga as Chief Diversity Officer

Building on a strong team of diverse experts in their fields, Governor JB Pritzker announced the following appointments in his administration:
 
Dr. Sekile M. Nzinga will join his administration to serve as Chief Diversity Officer, bringing a wealth of leadership experience and accomplishments across equity and diversity issues.
 
"I am proud to have Dr. Nzinga lead our state's diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts," said Governor JB Pritzker. "Across her career, Dr. Nzinga has been nationally recognized for her work to expand equity and inclusion. I look forward to having her join my administration as we work to build a better Illinois for all our residents."
 
Dr. Nzinga begins her role on April 16, 2021. Previously, Dr. Nzinga served as Northwestern University's interim Chief Diversity Officer, Associate Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, and Women's Center Director.  She is the author of Lean Semesters: How Higher Education Reproduces in Inequity published in 2020, serves on the general council of the National Women's Studies Association and has been recognized locally and nationally as a leader on feminist, gender equity in higher education, and reproductive justice issues.
 
Dr. Nzinga earned a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) from the University of Maryland in Human Development, a Masters of Social Work from Ohio State University, and Bachelor's of Science in Social Work from Morgan State University. 

 
AMUSEMENT RIDE AND ATTRACTION SAFETY BOARD

Michael Sutton will serve on the Amusement Ride and Attraction Safety Board.* For over twenty years Sutton has served as the President and CEO of Infrastructure Engineering Inc, growing the business from two employees in its inception to nearly one hundred employees today. With over forty years of professional experience in study, design and construction, Sutton contributes to the larger engineering community as a founding member of the Council for Black Architects and Engineering Companies and is a member of the Business Leadership Council and Illinois chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Sutton's work has been recognized in the professional community, too,  as the 2014 Minority Professional Engineer of the Year, awarded by the Suburban Minority Contractors Association, and the Construction Council and Community Service Award from the Evanston/NorthShore Branch of the NAACP among any others. Sutton earned his Bachelor of Science from the College of Engineering from Northwestern University. 

COMMISSION ON DISCRIMINATION AND HATE CRIMES

Jason Rosenweig will serve on the Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes.* Rosenweig currently works for the American Jewish Committee as the Assistant Director for Advocacy and International Affairs, managing the pollical affairs, diplomatic affairs, and media relations in Illinois and surrounding states. He has written articles on antisemitism and combating hate crimes. Rosenweig received a Bachelor of Arts in comparative literature and Master of Arts in French from Stanford University, and a Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science from the University of Chicago. 
 
* Appointments pending confirmation by the Illinois Senate.