OCAB First Tuesday: Featuring Alexis Hermiz
November 5, 2024 12:00PM - 1:00PM
Registration Deadline: November 5, 2024 - 01:15PM
Zoom/Brody Hall Dining Commons
Contact: For more information contact Ayodele Dare at dareayod@msu.edu
The Office of Culture Access and Belonging invites the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources community to attend the OCAB First Tuesday Event.
The November OCAB First Tuesday event features Alexis Hermiz, DEI Manager at Carhartt and CSUS Alum
First Tuesdays
These monthly discussions are open to all. First Tuesday events are an opportunity to hear from diverse scholars and professionals from the agriculture and natural resources industry, government and higher education disciplines speak about their own career and life paths, as well as their research, work or opportunities in their fields.
Register to receive the online and in person participation details. For questions, contact dareayod@msu.edu
Background on Alexis Hermiz
Alexis Hermiz earned a bachelor's degree in environmental studies and agriscience (the major is now called environmental studies and sustainability) from MSU in 2015. She currently serves as DEI Manager within the newly created Inclusion, Community and Sustainability (ISC) department at Carhartt. Her work supports strategy evolution by managing the design, implementation, execution and evaluation of Carhartt’s corporate DEI programs. Partnering with peers on the ISC team, she works to align and leverage company purpose as a driver that accelerates DEI work.
A native of Detroit, Michigan, as a high school student in 2008, Hermiz attended an ANR Institute for Multicultural Students (AIMS) Program hosted at MSU. During this weeklong event, Hermiz gained an understanding of CANR, toured campus farms, learned about academic programs and courses and connected with CANR staff. Inspired by this experience, Hermiz chose to attend MSU and quickly became an active leader and advocate on campus, championing a variety of DEI-focused initiatives.
From 2012-2015, Hermiz was part of the MSU Collegiate Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Program chapter, serving two years as the group’s president and two years as vice president. MANRRS is a national organization with chapters around the country that welcomes people of all backgrounds in agriculture and natural resource-related careers. She also worked as an executive division student assistant focusing on community outreach, education and policy development at the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
After graduating from MSU in 2015, she was hired by the DNR as a promotional assistant within the Parks and Recreation Division coordinating the Summer Youth Employment Program. This workforce development program connects youth in Detroit, Flint, Pontiac and Saginaw to natural resources-based career, education and recreation opportunities.
Following executive orders issued by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, Hermiz became a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for the DNR. Serving in this role from 2019-2022, she was responsible for educating employees on the governor’s executive directives on nondiscrimination and other applicable rules, regulations and directives, as well as forming a 25 person DEIJ (diversity, equity, inclusion and justice) team at the DNR. During this time, she also served as a department liaison for the Michigan Women’s Commission, Civil Service Commission and Department of Civil Rights on matters involving equity and inclusion.
She was also the recipient of the Michigan State University (MSU) College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (CANR) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alumni Award in 2024.
Get Directions
Print
Email