MPSC names Shatina Jones as agency’s first-ever Equity and Inclusion Officer

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The Michigan Public Service Commission today announced that it has named MPSC employee Shatina Jones as its first-ever Equity and Inclusion Officer.

Jones has worked for the MPSC since 2008, holding positions as senior energy analyst in the Electric Reliability Division and senior telecommunications analyst in the Telecommunications Division. Jones was chair of the MPSC’s efforts to refocus its work addressing diversity, equity and inclusion matters amid nationwide protests in 2020 in the aftermath of the murders of George Floyd and other African Americans.

“We are thrilled to have Shatina in this role as the MPSC takes steps to formalize its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, in its role both as an employer and as the regulator of critical infrastructure in Michigan,” said MPSC Chair Dan Scripps. “Shatina has been an instrumental leader, serving as the chair of the Commission’s DEI efforts over the last year and a half, and we are excited as she takes on a leadership role to build on that work.”

Jones has participated in several statewide equity and inclusion committees and subgroups to develop a DEI infrastructure within state government. That work has included helping formulate training for current and new state employees and best practices for recruitment, hiring and retention with a DEI lens. Within the MPSC’s parent agency, the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Jones has participated in committees reviewing internal policies that create barriers for marginalized and underrepresented employees and collaborating on new ways to recruit for jobs within LARA. She has also served on a committee planning year-round observation of black history programming.

Jones said she appreciates the opportunity to help lead change at the MPSC.

“My goal is to help the MPSC operationalize equity as a regulatory agency, both internally and externally,” Jones said. “I’ve heard it said and I quote this a lot: We have to get comfortable being uncomfortable, because the work of change is inevitably uncomfortable.”

In her new role, Jones will serve as a member of the Commission’s senior leadership team, responsible for leading the agency’s DEI efforts and formulating and establishing policies and priorities to ensure a sustainable, high performing organization and workforce. Jones will research and make recommendations to the Commission on policies affecting the Commission’s work to ensure fairness and equity related to the organization’s mission, strategic direction, values, and goals. Her responsibilities also will include ensuring the MPSC complies with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Directives 2019-9 and 2019-10.

For information about the MPSC, visit www.michigan.gov/mpsc, sign up for its monthly newsletter or other listservs, or follow the Commission on Twitter or LinkedIn.

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