Meet the Team
Megan Matthews Director | Office of Equity megan.matthews@equity.wa.gov
Hi, my name is Megan Matthews, my pronouns are she/her and I love to hang out with friends and family and play volleyball outside of work. I am here because of the folks who supported me and gave me access along the way. I am a combination of my parents, family, friends, and colleagues who influenced me along the way.
I am in this because of the folks who came before me. I will do my part for the people I love and care about and the people I do not know who struggle because of a system that is not fair, that favors some and burdens others.
Full Bio for Megan Matthews
Who We Are
The Office of Equity is beautifully diverse and strives to model the way government can center the humanity of the communities we serve as well all employees. We lead with relational partnership and accountability to make real our vision of a Washington where everyone thrives, and everyone belongs.
Our Office is filled with people of varying identities that intersect at equity and each of us are on our own personal anti-racism journeys. So, we invite you to get to know us and how each team contributes to our mission.
Deputy Director
Deputy Director Andrew Chin supports the Director with long-term strategy and leads and facilitates work within our Office to meet our mandate. Additionally, the Deputy Director oversees the daily operational functions of the office and assists in preparation/development of budget, grants, and legislation. Perhaps one of the most important responsibilities, this position supports the Leadership Team through guidance, direction, thought partnership, and strategic decision-making that sets the office culture and drives our mission.
Meet the Deputy Director Team
Tribal Relations
The Tribal Relations Liaison iisaaksiichaa braine supports the Office of Equity’s Government-to-Government consultation with tribes and supports the inclusion of Alaskan Native and American Indian people in Washington state to meet the Office’s mandate to advance equitable systems change. This position supports the office in establishing and maintaining positive relationships between the tribes and the office.
Meet the Tribal Relations Team
Policy & Legislative Affairs
The Policy & Legislative Affairs Team, led by Director Omar Santana-Gomez, is responsible for advancing the Office of Equity’s mandate to achieve systemic equity by closing systems gaps across state government for minoritized groups through a critical legislative and policy strategy. The Policy and Legislative Affairs Director provides the Office Director and Leadership Team with strategic and creative thinking, analysis on legislative and regulatory matters, advises on legislative and stakeholder engagement, and manages special projects, as assigned.
Meet the Policy & Legislative Affairs Team
Administrative Support
The Business & Administrative Services team, led by Executive Assistant Dana van Ness develops and document processes in partnership with the Equity directors, managers, and deputy. We provide services that are related to travel and logistics, executive correspondence, recruitment support, meeting planning and coordination, purchasing and invoicing, and ASL coordination, to name a few. We are warm and professional while providing excellent service that is timely, consistent, and transparent. We continuously assess the overall needs and goals of our office while focusing on our mission of making Washington a belonging state that is pro-equity and anti-racist.
Meet the Administrative Support Team
Communications
The Communication Team, led by Director TraeAnna Holiday, is the mouthpiece of the Office of Equity. By coordinating events, social media, newsletters, video production, and much more, this team supports connection to community using creativity and relationship. With a hyper-focus on accessibility and equity, this team wants to redefine what government communications can look, sound, and feel like.
Meet the Communications Team
Access & Accessibility
The Access & Accessibility team, led by Director Jordan Feyerherm, is committed to identifying barriers to access across state government and working with agencies to develop sustainable plans to addressing them. It is our responsibility to ensure government works for and with all residents. Our current focus areas are digital, language, and disability accessibility which includes accessing technology, physical spaces, and information.
Meet the Access & Accessibility Team
Equity & Belonging
The Equity & Belonging team, led by Director Nicholas Vann is a team of Shared Power Consultants and Pro-Equity Consultants. Shared Power Consultants support agencies by addressing the historical and current inequities that have deprived many communities in Washington State. The Pro-Equity Consultants help state agencies to implement PEAR within state government to help reduce disparities.
Meet the Equity & Belonging Team
Innovation & Performance
The Innovation & Performance Team, led by Director Caitlyn McNabb, helps agencies invest where the needs are greatest, to addresses upstream causes for downstream inequities, through quantitative analysis and lived experience narratives. We analyze the outcomes and human impact of our decision making to build a system of accountability in government.
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Operations
The Operations Team, led by Director Amanda Maxwell, supports the Office of Equity and Community Advisory Board in navigating government administration so that the Office operates within Pro-Equity Anti-Racism framework to create systems and policy change for equity and justice.
Meet the Operations Team