Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak today announced Christian Berry, M.Ed. as the Interim Director of the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (REIB). Berry began the interim leadership role just before the Thanksgiving holiday.
Berry began working as the Communications and Community Engagement Manager for REIB in October 2023. Prior to joining the City of Burlington, Berry served as the Public Health Workforce Director for the Vermont Department of Health.
“Interim Director Berry is a thoughtful and skilled equity and community outreach leader and I am grateful she accepted my request to lead REIB during this period of transition for the Office,” said Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak. “My administration remains committed to advancing equity work through a racial justice lens both in City government and in our broader community. Interim Director Berry and I agree this approach to the work is critical for the immediate and near-future needs of our City, as we work to make the City more inclusive, safe, and responsive to all residents, especially historically marginalized people. I am confident in Interim Director Berry’s ability to foster connections and move this important work forward.”
Berry holds a long career in Vermont where she has impacted an array of sectors, including higher education, human services, non-profits, and state and local government. Renowned for her expertise in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility, Berry has passionately championed social justice and fostered a culture of belonging for over two decades.
Prior to joining the REIB, Berry served as the Workforce Development Director at the Vermont Department of Health (VDH). She initially joined VDH as a Health Equity Team Lead in the Office of Local Health. Prior to that, she worked at the University of Vermont as the Director of the Tutoring Center. She also previously worked at the UVM Larner School of Medicine as the Director of Curriculum Operations and also Curriculum Management.
She has also held positions in important community organizations in and around Burlington including the Howard Center and Vermont Works for Women.
Berry also serves as an adjunct psychology professor at CCV and Northern Vermont University where she teaches developmental psychology. She holds a Master’s in Education and B.S. in Human Growth and Development.
“I am honored to serve as the Interim Director for the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (REIB) and I’m grateful to Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak for entrusting me with this opportunity at such a critical juncture,” said Christian Berry. “A healthy city is one that is safe, diverse, welcoming, and inclusive of everyone. I look forward to working alongside my city colleagues and members of our community to build on the important initiatives already in progress, while ensuring our office remains agile in addressing emerging challenges that disproportionately affect the most underrepresented, underserved, and marginalized communities in Burlington. Together, we can realize our shared vision of a healthy and thriving Burlington and I am excited to embark on this journey with you all in my new role.”
In the coming months, the administration plans to post for the hiring of the next Director of the Office of Racial Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging.
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