(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Ned Lamont today announced that he is appointing Mariana Monteiro to serve as Connecticut’s chief equity and opportunity officer.

In this position, Monteiro will lead the Connecticut Office of Equity and Opportunity, a new state office established by the governor through an executive order he enacted earlier this year that is assigned with ensuring that Connecticut state government is a leader in equity and inclusion with the goals of eliminating institutional and systemic barriers and creating opportunity and access for all those it serves and employs. The office is administratively held within the Office of the Governor and it is funded through that office’s existing appropriations.

Governor Lamont created this office and its corresponding leadership position because he believes government offices should be representative of the people they serve and that people from different racial, ethnic, gender, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds should have a voice in the decision-making processes concerning government policies and practices.

“Government is accountable to the public, and as such it should actively seek out and engage with individuals and opinions beyond those who typically have access and opportunity because doing so will create a stronger workforce within government offices while also implementing more effective and representative policies that benefit the public,” Governor Lamont said. “In serving as Connecticut’s first chief equity and opportunity officer, Mariana will lead the efforts of state government offices to ensure they are doing everything possible to create a fair, equitable, and inclusive environment representative of the people who live in our state, and by doing so will help in our overall goals of addressing historical and ongoing disparities and promoting social justice.”

“I am proud of our government’s commitment to making our state the place of choice to live, work, and for businesses to thrive,” Monteiro said. “Equity, as a guiding lens, expands access to talent, enhances competition without compromising merit, and creates opportunities for all. Through state services, it means listening to the different voices and needs of the communities we represent and meeting them where they are. I am deeply honored and grateful to have the opportunity to contribute to this critical endeavor.”

Monteiro has extensive experience in human resources with several major global companies. She most recently worked for Lockheed Martin as executive director of global diversity and inclusion in which she developed and implemented the defense company’s efforts to support a more inclusive workforce culture that attracts a diverse candidate pool and positions the company as an employer of choice. Prior to that, she worked with Raytheon Technologies as head of global workforce diversity equity and inclusion; with Otis Elevator Company as director of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and in General Electric’s corporate and different business units, including energy and aerospace, in various capacities related to human resources, compliance and investigations, inclusive practices and community service.

Earlier this year, Monteiro was recognized by Women We Admire as one of the “Top 50 Women Leaders of Connecticut for 2024.”

She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Purdue University Krannert School of Management, a Master of Arts degree in cultural studies from Purdue University, and a Juris Doctor degree from Universidad Nacional de La Plata.

Governor Lamont’s executive order tasks the chief equity and opportunity officer with fulfilling several specific responsibilities, including:

• Serving as the coordinator of the state’s diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy;
• Supporting equity-oriented efforts throughout the state to ensure services and resources are available and accessible to all in Connecticut;
• Conducting comprehensive assessments of current and proposed policies and practices of state agencies to identify areas where disparities exist, and where underserved communities may face barriers to accessing services;
• Developing a formal process for the development and implementation of agency equity plans;
• Coordinating the publication of agency equity plans on a centralized and easily accessible website;
• Developing equity-oriented systems, policies, and procedures that operationalize diversity, equity, inclusion and support sustainable practices within state agencies;
• Identifying diversity, equity, and inclusion trainings opportunities for all state employees;
• Developing statewide diversity, equity, and inclusion benchmarks and measures of progress;
• Overseeing and providing guidance to state agencies on how to engage and incorporate the perspectives of underserved communities;
• Partnering with state agencies to ensure communications with residents are culturally and linguistically appropriate and accessible;
• Integrating equity considerations into the budget process and assess the impact of budget decisions; and
• Providing strategies to promote equitable contracting and purchasing practices.

Additionally, the executive order directs all state employees to participate in trainings focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion as coordinated by the chief equity and opportunity officer. It also directs all state agencies to develop an agency equity plan with the assistance of the chief equity and opportunity officer.

Monteiro is serving in the role effective immediately.