Stamford Hires First Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Officer

GREENWICH, CT — Last week, Mayor Caroline Simmons and the city of Stamford announced the hiring of Carmen Hughes, the city's first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer.

The Board of Representatives voted to approve Hughes’ contract with the city at their April 4 regular meeting. She started her employment with the city this week.

"I am excited to serve the Mayor and the City of Stamford in this critical role," Hughes said in a news release. "The mayor has made it clear that diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility are important. I look forward to advancing her initiatives in this capacity. As the city’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, I look forward to helping define how this role will serve our community going forward. It is a great opportunity to make a true, positive impact."

As the DEI Officer for the Stamford, Hughes will be responsible for developing policies to attract, retain and promote a diverse workforce within the city and all city government including city boards and commissions. Hughes will assist with creating best practices to enhance an inclusive workplace and community.

Carmen’s most recent role was as the Founder and CEO of Edelweise, a consultant and talent development firm that advises companies ranging from Walgreens and Pandora Jewelry to small businesses on DEI strategy development and implementation.

"Carmen has a breadth of experience in diversity, equity and inclusion work," said Simmons in a news release. "Her experience working as a consultant working on DEI and working with small and large businesses will benefit our city. When I ran for Mayor, I committed to creating a diverse cabinet that looked like our city and Carmen’s knowledge and experience will be an asset to our team."

Hughes' most recent role was as the founder and CEO of Edelweise, a consultant and talent development firm that advises companies ranging from Walgreens and Pandora Jewelry to small businesses on DEI strategy development and implementation.

Prior to starting her consulting firm, Hughes served as Global Head of People & Trust at Shieldpay where she spearheaded global human resources infrastructure and implemented a framework for the company’s organizational structure.

For 20 years, she worked at JP Morgan Chase where she was Head of Campus Recruiting & Pipeline Development and Executive Director – Fixed Income Specialist. A graduate of Howard University, Hughes received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Howard University, and numerous certifications including from Cornell University.

"This is a great move for the city and its residents," added Doug Dalena, director of legal affairs, in a news release. "I very much look forward to collaborating with Carmen to advance the Mayor’s vision of a more inclusive and equitable city. Stamford’s legal and human resources teams are excited to benefit from her expertise to help us apply evidence and best practices to help city government best serve and reflect our diverse population."

Hughes lives in Stamford with her husband and three children.