Mahoning County Children Services hires diversity officer

YOUNGSTOWN — Nancy Walker-McCain has been selected as Mahoning County Children Services' first diversity, equity and inclusion officer.

More than 100 candidates applied for the new position that was officially created last June.

In her new role, Walker-McCain, a Mahoning County resident for more than 27 years, will proactively lead the development and implementation of internal and external initiatives contained in the Agency's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan.

"As the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, it will be important to create a climate of inclusion," Walker-McCain said in a news release. "My ultimate goal for this position is to have MCCS represent and mitigate marginalized individuals who are within our agency as well as those we serve."

Walker-McCain is pursuing a doctorate and holds a bachelor's degree in Religious Studies from John Carroll University in Cleveland. She also has master's degrees in Business Administration from Point Park University in Pittsburgh,and Community Counseling from Malone University in Canton.

A Selection Review Committee comprised of Mahoning County Children Services Board Members and staff supervised the entire selection process.

"The Agency has been planning for this position for over two years," said Randall B. Muth, executive director. "This new position is key to implementing the agency's diversity, equity and inclusion Plan which serves as the Agency's guide to how we view, assess, promote, measure and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion into virtually every aspect of our work."

Walker-McCain has extensive experience teaching cultural diversity, gender diversity, women's studies, human development, case management and crisis management.

She has counseling experience and specializations with LGBTIQA+, military/veterans, State of Ohio Offenders and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Offenders, Developmentally Challenged Individuals, Child and Adolescents, Community Mental Health, Trauma Victims, Substance Abuse and Marriage and Family.

Walker-McCain has been a lecturer and adjunct professor since 2005.

This story was originally published January 23, 2021 at 8:17 AM with the headline "Mahoning County Children Services hires diversity officer."