Dawnita J. Wilson Joins WETA as Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer

Arlington, Virginia—WETA President and Chief Executive Officer Sharon Percy Rockefeller today named Dawnita J. Wilson as Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer (CDEIO), effective November 28, 2022. Reporting to WETA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Jason R. Daisey, Wilson will work closely with Rockefeller, other senior leadership, and staff to advance diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) across all programs and services throughout WETA and its subsidiary, NewsHour Productions.

Rockefeller said, “We are delighted that Dawnita is joining WETA, for she shares our commitment to public service and our mission to celebrate the many voices and perspectives in our society, in our work, and in our workplace.”

“Creating the best possible workplace means supporting all members of our staff to bring their unique gifts and experiences to their work,” noted Daisey. “Dawnita’s nearly two decades of experience working in a DEI capacity and her expertise in working with complex organizations will be a powerful addition to our leadership team.”

“I am looking forward to joining WETA and sharing in their rich history and mission,” said Wilson. “The organization’s commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is unwavering, and I can't wait to be a part of leading this important work in such a dynamic company and industry.”

As Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, Wilson will provide strategic vision, leadership, and counsel around integrating DEI into all aspects of WETA’s business, including strategy, policy, talent management, education, community relations, programming and communications. This new position will help to expand upon the DEI progress the organization has made over the past several years. Wilson will partner with key stakeholders, as well as lead the DEI Council and employee resource groups.

Wilson has worked with U.S. and global organizations across multiple industries, most recently as vice president and head of diversity & inclusion at JBG SMITH, an S&P 400 company that owns, operates, invests in and develops a dynamic portfolio of high-growth mixed-use properties in and around Washington, D.C. She was director, global diversity and inclusion at global hospitality company Sodexo; director, diversity and inclusion at integrated health system and insurance company Highmark; and program director, inclusion initiatives at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Most recently, Wilson received the “Commitment to Diversity Award” from the African American Real Estate Professionals (AAREP) D.C. Foundation. Wilson was also recognized as one of the 2021 “Top 100 Diversity Officers” by the National Diversity Council and was featured as one of “The 10 Most Influential Black Women in Business to Follow in 2021” by CIO Views Magazine. She is a 2021 Washington Business Journal “Diversity in Business Award” honoree. Wilson has an M.S. in Human Resources Management from LaRoche University and a B.S. in Administration of Justice from the University of Pittsburgh.

The WETA Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer search was conducted by WB&B Executive Search.

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About WETA

WETA is the flagship public media station in the national capital area, serving the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia with content that educates and inspires on five television channels: WETA PBS, WETA UK, WETA Metro, WETA World and WETA PBS Kids; on the station’s website, weta.org; and on WETA Classical radio and wetaclassical.org. Local programming and digital content created by WETA celebrates the people and history of the region through the series If You Lived Here, Signature Dish and WETA Arts; and the Classical Breakdown and Telly Visions podcasts. WETA is the second-largest producer of new content for public television in the United States, including news and public affairs programs PBS NewsHour, PBS News Weekend and Washington Week; films by Ken Burns and Florentine Films, such as Benjamin Franklin and The U.S. and the Holocaust; series and documentaries by Prof. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., including Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Making Black America: Through the Grapevine; and specials such as In Performance at the White House, A Capitol Fourth, The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song and The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize. WETA creates a trove of trusted, informative resources for the public, including Well Beings — a multi-platform, multiyear campaign that addresses critical health needs in America through storytelling, conversations and impactful events. The organization’s public service websites ReadingRockets.org, ColorinColorado.org, LDOnLine.org, AdLit.org, StartWithABook.org and BrainLine.org provide resources surrounding child development, literacy, education and the brain. Sharon Percy Rockefeller is the president and chief executive officer of WETA. More information on WETA programs and services is available at weta.org. Visit facebook.com/wetatvfm on Facebook or follow @WETAtvfm on Twitter.

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