King County Executive Dow Constantine has selected Monisha Harrell to serve as the Director of the Office of Equity, Racial and Social Justice (OERSJ).

In this role, Monisha will oversee OERSJ’s crucial work of advancing and embedding all of our King County values – with a particular focus on “We are racially just” – across our operations to build a truly fair, racially just, and equitable community and workplace. She will support OERSJ in advancing equality and protections for LGBTQ+ people, ensuring access and equity for people with disabilities, and the completion and implementation of the revised ESJ Strategic Plan.

Monisha brings extensive experience in key leadership roles in both the public and private sectors to OERSJ, with an emphasis on centering racial justice, the advancement of civil rights, and community engagement. Most recently she served as Senior Deputy Mayor at the City of Seattle with responsibility for areas including Police, Fire, CSCC (911 Call Center), Office of Emergency Management, Budget, and Office of Intergovernmental Relations. She also served as a Deputy Monitor of the Justice Department’s Consent Decree of the Seattle Police Department.

Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer (CEIO) Anita Whitfield is stepping away from the role of OERSJ Director as she prepares for her retirement in the coming weeks. Until her retirement, she will advise Executive Constantine and the new OERSJ Director on ways to continue to advance and further embed anti-racism/pro-equity concepts and principles throughout the work of the County.

Monisha will officially start her new role on Monday, March 4.