News & Views

HIAS Pennsylvania promotes Jennifer M. Joseph to Deputy Director and Chief DEI Officer

HIAS Pennsylvania promotes Jennifer M. Joseph to Deputy Director and Chief DEI Officer

HIAS Pennsylvania is pleased to announce the promotion of Jennifer M. Joseph, HIAS Pennsylvania’s Director of Operations since April 2019, to the position of Deputy Director and Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Officer. Mrs. Joseph, who has extensive Human Resources and Operations experience, will be the first Chief DEI Officer at HIAS PA, and the first Deputy Director of the organization since 2016.

HIAS Pennsylvania has more than doubled in size over the past four years in order to provide increased legal and social services during this tumultuous time. The organization’s strategic plan aims to increase the organization’s efficiency and infrastructure after its explosive growth, along with increasing the organization’s dedication to DEI with the creation of the Chief DEI officer.

“Over the next few years, HIAS Pennsylvania is dedicated to increasing our organizational effectiveness and pursuit of diversity, inclusion and equity,” stated Carol Gantman, HIAS Pennsylvania’s Board President, “Jennifer M. Joseph’s experience and her tireless work towards those goals in the last year and a half make her a perfect choice to lead this effort for the Agency in her new role.”

According to Executive Director Cathyrn Miller-Wilson, “Jennifer M. Joseph has exhibited consummate professionalism and tireless hard work in her prior role. We are so pleased that, in promoting her, we both acknowledge her accomplishments and elevate her ability to move the agency forward.”

Mrs. Joseph is a valued community influencer who is beloved for her contribution to the black and Haitian community in Philadelphia, PA. She founded the Bi-Annual Women’s Fest Conference which is an empowerment event curated for women of color to equip them with the resources and tools that are needed to pursue their professional, educational, and business interests. She has also sat on the board of the Haitian Professionals of Philadelphia for many years.

Mrs. Joseph is also a sought-after public speaker and professional development trainer. In March of 2020, she was recognized by Cribs for Kids as a Woman of Achievement. She is the proud daughter of two hard-working immigrants who immigrated to the U.S in search of a better life. Jennifer was born and raised in West Philadelphia, PA, where she attended inner-city public schools and graduated from Overbrook High School–“The Castle on the Hill”. She went on to Rosemont College where she obtained her Bachelor’s degree and later obtained a Certification in Human Resources Management. Jennifer is actively pursuing her MBA.

About HIAS Pennsylvania
HIAS Pennsylvania is committed to providing legal and supportive services to immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers from all backgrounds in order to assure their fair treatment and full integration into American society. For more information, please go to https://hiaspa.org/.

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