Mayor Tishaura O. Jones Appoints Vernon Mitchell as City’s Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer

Today, Mayor Tishaura O. Jones announced the appointment of Dr. Vernon Mitchell, Jr., as Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer of the City of St. Louis. Mitchell’s first day will be January 3, 2022.

“The Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer will help the City of St. Louis bring all communities to the table to address the collective problems our city faces,” said Mayor Tishaura O. Jones. “I am excited Dr. Mitchell is bringing his knowledge and expertise to help ensure St. Louis government is more equitable across racial lines.”

Mitchell joins the City from the University of South Carolina’s Department of History and African American Studies, where he was a Research Assistant Professor and instructor of record on African-American studies courses. Prior to this, he worked at Washington University in St. Louis, where as Academic Engagement Programs Manager he developed, executed, and assessed programs that engaged the university community and the public and as Curator of Popular American Arts & Culture was the principal investigator for documenting the role of social media in local social movements. Mitchell holds a bachelor’s and master’s in history from the University of Missouri as well as a master’s and Ph.D from Cornell University.

Mitchell’s appointment is the latest in a series for the Jones administration. A full list of the mayor’s cabinet appointees can be found on the City’s website.