Multi-platform media company Meredith Corporation has announced the appointment of Diane L Parker as Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion (D&I).
Parker will lead Meredith’s diversity and inclusion initiatives and programming across all locations and businesses. She succeeds Shona Pinnock, who left Meredith in the fall of 2020 for a new opportunity. Parker will report to Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Dina Nathanson.
“Diane is a proven leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion work and will be an outstanding addition to our team,” stated Nathanson. “Making Meredith a more diverse and inclusive workplace is a top priority for the organisation. Diane has expertise in recruitment, talent retention, employee experience, and partnering with content creators. Her experience at the Associated Press made her a perfect fit. I am excited to partner with her as we continue to move our D&I programme into the future.”
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PRIORITY
For the past 20 years, Parker served as Director, Staffing, Global Diversity and Inclusion for the Associated Press (AP), where she created training, education, leadership development, onboarding and orientation programmes. She also redesigned the AP’s global news internship programme with a key focus on diversity and inclusion. Parker also established strategic alliances with professional industry organisations. They include the National Association of Hispanic Journalists; the National Association of Black Journalists; the Asian American Journalists Association, the Native American Journalists Association; and the Association of LGBTQ Journalists. She also partnered with the AP’s News and Revenue divisions to create and enhance their diversity and inclusion initiatives. Before joining the AP, she served as a HR manager for both Harrah’s Entertainment and BJC Healthcare.
Commenting on the new role, Parker stated: “Meredith has made great progress in its Diversity and Inclusion programme, focusing on its three pillars of recruitment, retention, and education, and I look forward to keeping the momentum going. I am particularly eager to work with Meredith’s outstanding employee resource groups and Diversity and Inclusion committee. It is exciting to see employees leaning in to make a difference not only for their coworkers, but for Meredith’s customers, clients and the communities they serve.”
CHAMPIONING DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Parker believes in continuing education for personal and professional growth and is completing Cornell University’s Diversity & Inclusion certificate programme. She served as an Area Director for Toastmasters International and is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, National Industry Liaison Group, the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources; and Co-founder and Executive Director of the New Jersey Creative Arts Collaborative. She consults with local theatre companies on D&I; and provides development and performance opportunities for artists of colour.
Parker received her master’s degree in human resource management and BA in mass communication from Lindenwood University. She is also a proud alumnus of the Stella Adler/Billie Holiday Theatre Black Arts Institute.
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