Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State, has appointed Zakiya Carr Johnson as the new chief diversity and inclusion officer at the State Department. Carr Johnson is an experienced expert in race, social inclusion, and diversity and will be responsible for building a workforce that reflects the diversity of America. While many support Blinken’s efforts to prioritize diversity and inclusion issues, some have expressed surprise that it took him so long to fill the vacant position. One of the main challenges facing Carr Johnson will be the department’s retention issue, particularly at the mid-levels, with women and minorities disproportionately leaving and harming the pipeline of talent in the organization.
Carr Johnson’s background includes serving at the State Department from 2010 to 2017 and starting organizations that work with historically marginalized communities. Blinken believes that her international expertise and commitment to inclusive leadership will strengthen and innovate the workforce at the State Department. A retention unit was set up shortly after Blinken took office to address the issues causing employees to leave, as internal surveys have shown high levels of discrimination and harassment within the department. The lack of trust in the system has led employees to seek opportunities elsewhere, according to a senior official.
Several officials within the State Department have pointed out the underrepresentation of Arab Americans, Black Americans, and Hispanic Americans at senior diplomatic ranks. This lack of representation is due in part to assignment restrictions that prevent diplomats from working on issues related to their families’ countries of origin. Despite these challenges, there have been some successes during Blinken’s tenure, with the State Department exceeding hiring and retention rates of employees with disabilities and making progress in same-sex spouse accreditation for foreign service officers. The department has also been collecting demographic data for the past three years to track employee trend lines.
Carr Johnson expressed her honor at serving her country and the talented professionals at the State Department in a statement. While her appointment is seen as a positive step towards addressing diversity and inclusion issues, some employees wish they had been consulted before her appointment. The State Department is working to address the retention issue that has been affecting the organization, with efforts focused on building a workforce that reflects the diversity of America. As Carr Johnson takes on her new role, she will be tasked with implementing strategies to improve retention and create a more inclusive workplace environment.
Despite the challenges facing Carr Johnson, she brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the role, having worked with marginalized communities and promoted entrepreneurship and access to opportunities for underrepresented populations in the past. Blinken believes that her fresh perspective will help build a stronger, smarter, and more innovative workforce at the State Department. Moving forward, the department will continue to focus on addressing discrimination, harassment, and issues related to trust within the system to create a more inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees.
