NPR promotes Whitney Maddox to VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. She has been serving as Director of DE&I at the public media network since 2021.
“Since joining us nearly three years ago, Whitney has, in many ways, changed who we are and how we see ourselves as a company,” Chief Diversity Officer Keith Woods said in a release. “This promotion recognizes Whitney’s increasing influence across NPR and the larger Network and her emergent influence on the company’s direction and that of our Member stations.”
Before Maddox joined NPR, she spent more than a decade at Georgetown University, where she served as the Assistant Director for Leadership Development and Racial Justice Initiatives as part of Georgetown's Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching, and Service. She designed and launched STAR – Start Talking About Race – to help the university address "how race impacts how we show up and do business."
In her most recent role, Maddox has led twice-monthly company-wide antiracism STAR workshops with more than 1,000 staff members, as well as leadership and diversity training to support NPR’s 250-plus Member Stations across the country. She has also facilitated inclusion and belonging workshops for leadership and staff to advance the values of DE&I across the network.
“When I started at NPR, I had the distinct opportunity to lead a two-year focus on improving the work experience of women of color. What happened as a result of that work is one of the reasons this promotion feels like a win for all women of color at NPR,” Maddox commented. “I would not be the leader I am today if it were not for those women embracing me, teaching me, and trusting me. I am fully aware that the reason my career has blossomed at NPR is because of my supervisor Keith Woods. I get to learn every day from the person who paved the way for DEI in public radio. Keith is the reason that I feel confident stepping into this VP role and he is the reason why I will succeed.”