Big Hartman, staff attorney investigator at the Vermont Human Rights Commission since September 2021, has been appointed executive director of the agency, effective July 31. Hartman succeeds Bor Yang, who has held the post since 2018.
“Big is one of the best staff attorney investigators who has worked at the Human Rights Commission,” Yang said. “They bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to the position. I have all of the confidence in their ability to move this agency forward.”
Hartman will be the first outwardly queer, nonbinary person to serve as executive director of the commission. As staff attorney investigator, they completed a large number of investigations concerning complaints of discrimination, many of which resulted in a finding of reasonable grounds by the commission.
Hartman has also assisted many parties in resolving their disputes by facilitating settlements. They are passionate about providing training opportunities that can prevent discrimination from occurring by addressing topics such as fair housing laws, public accommodations best practices, unconscious bias, microaggressions, bystander intervention and workplace harassment.
Hartman graduated magna cum laude from Bradford College in Haverhill, Massachusetts, and earned a law degree, cum laude, from Vermont Law School.