Richmond, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that he has chosen Angela Sailor to be Virginia’s Director of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. Governor Youngkin also issued Executive Order 10, appointing a sailor as a member of his Cabinet as President of Diversity, Opportunity and Inclusion in the Commonwealth with a stronger, more focused role on promoting ideas, policies, and economic opportunity for disadvantaged Virginians, including Virginians living with disabilities and bringing Virginians together of different religions together.
“The people of Virginia elected the most diverse leadership in the history of the Commonwealth. Virginia is big enough for the hopes and dreams of a diverse people. Angela Sailor’s experience in government, nonprofits, and the private sector will guide us as we ensure that government works for the benefit of all Virginians across the diverse Commonwealth, especially when it comes to economic opportunity For all Virginians. In addition, I will introduce and support legislation to change the name of the office to the Office of Diversity, Opportunity, and Inclusion,” Governor Glenn Youngkin said.
Click here to read a full copy of Executive Order No. 10.
Angela Sailor, Chair of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Angela Sailor is a CEO with over 20 years experience delivering measurable achievement in both internal and advisory roles working with government (White House, Congress, US Department of State, US Department of Education), businesses, NGOs (NGOs), and non-profit organizations (NPOs). Her most recent positions include Vice President of the Feulner Institute at The Heritage Foundation, Chief of Staff to Heritage’s President Kay Coles James and public member of the Senior Corps Selection Board at the U.S. Department of State.
Sailor has also worked to advance policy through leadership positions in the public sector at the federal, state, and local levels. Working in the White House’s Office of Public Liaison, Sailor has successfully formed coalitions to support presidential policy initiatives while driving stakeholder support and enhancing strategic communication for traditional and niche markets. Her portfolio included domestic politics that directly impacts African American and older communities. She served as a champion of presidential policies supporting education, historically black colleges and universities, faith-based initiatives, health care, housing, small business, and Social Security and welfare policy. As an alternative to the White House, Angela has hosted White House briefings, Eastern events and the Pink Room with the President, as well as regional and local municipal meetings with Cabinet and senior administrative officials.
She held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff in the US Department of Education, Office of Secretary Rod Page. In this role, Sailor worked closely with the White House on a variety of policy matters before the Secretary and represented the Secretary to internal and external stakeholders. She oversaw White House initiatives on educational excellence and higher education to include historically black colleges and universities, as well as the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives. Special projects included No Child Left Behind War Room, the 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education and the Ninth Law Commission on Opportunity in Athletics. She served on the US Senate Judiciary Committee, the Immigration Subcommittee of former US Senator Spencer Abraham. Also, her roles at the state and local levels include working for the Michigan law office of longtime Republican Governor John Engler, the Michigan State Court of Appeals, the Detroit, Michigan and the Detroit Michigan Wayne County Commission.
Sailor was on the front lines of the work to elect conservative leaders to federal and state offices. As Director of National Coalitions, Section Chair and Senior Advisor to the Republican National Committee, Bahar has managed budget and oversight for three departments—Coalitions and Strategic Communications (internal/external), Foundation Services, and the RNC Training Program. In this capacity, Angela is tasked with building a new department, leading program design, planning, logistics, fundraising, cross-cultural messaging, cultural training, alliances, online engagement, roundtable discussions, merchandising, and engagement. The featured project involved creating and directing operations for a national bus tour covering 14,000 miles, 48 states and more than 100 cities, with Angela overseeing 200 employees and volunteers and managing the operation 45% under projected budget.
Sailor also served as Director of African American Affairs on George W. Bush’s Victory 2000 presidential campaign. In this capacity, she served as a liaison with African-American Republican candidates in Congress, state and local. Sailor has built stronger alliances with companies focused on urban areas, community, education, and religious leaders across America, and has managed a coalition fieldwork team and volunteers across the country.
Sailor’s corporate experiences include working as a partner for the Watts Consulting Group where Sailor managed government and legislative advocacy, crisis management, crisis communications, political and cultural analysis, and thought leadership for clients such as John Deere, NASCAR, Strong American Schools and Wells Fargo. It has also built private/public partnerships between universities, congressional offices, nonprofit organizations, and trade associations.
The beginning of her career includes Director of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce. Communications, Sales and Marketing Strategy Analyst at Black Entertainment Television; and sales and marketing for Procter and Gamble. Media experiences include working as a radio host with WGTZ 93 Dayton, Ohio, WCSU-FM 88.9, and as a freelance producer with Fox Morning News, Washington, DC.
Sailor holds a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Memphis, Cecil C. Humphreys College of Law, and an MA in Broadcast Journalism and Public Affairs from American University. She attended Spelman College and graduated from Central State University. She is married and has two children.
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