2022 New Jersey

Mecca Mitchell is the Senior Vice President of Inclusion and Diversity at Burlington Stores, Inc., where she is responsible for leading efforts to create supportive and equitable institutional structures, fostering welcoming and inclusive environments, and cultivating a culture that leverages diversity, inclusion, and equity best practices to drive business objectives, while responding to the diverse needs of its workforce, its customers, and the communities it serves. Prior to this position, she served as the Senior Vice President of Diversity, Inclusion & Community Engagement for the Westchester Medical Center Health Network, a ten-hospital system located in the Hudson Valley. In that role, she ensured that all internal organizational policies and procedures across the network aligned with diversity, inclusion, and equity principles, while also building relationships with external stakeholders to explore innovative partnerships that created sustainable health and promoted community vitality. Prior to this position, Mrs. Mitchell served as the Chief Diversity Officer for the State of New York. Appointed by Governor Andrew Cuomo in September 2013, she was responsible for the creation and implementation of recruitment and retention initiatives designed to promote workforce diversity and inclusion, while also leading state-wide initiatives to increase Minority & Women Owned Business (MWBE) procurement opportunities. Prior to joining the Cuomo administration, Mrs. Mitchell was the Executive Director of Equal Employment Opportunity & Diversity Management for the New York City Department of Education, the largest school district in the country. In that role she was responsible for ensuring department-wide compliance with all EEO laws and diversity policies by overseeing the Discrimination Complaint Unit, the Procurement/Contract Compliance Unit, the Training Unit, the Disability Rights Unit, Title IX Unit, and the Diversity Management Unit – a unit that Mrs. Mitchell created. Mrs. Mitchell began her legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County (Manhattan) District Attorney’s Office. Appointed by the renowned Robert M. Morgenthau in 2000, she prosecuted assorted criminal matters as a member of the Trial Division, Sex Crimes & Domestic Violence Units, and the Welfare Fraud Unit. Mrs. Mitchell holds certifications from Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations in Diversity Management and Equal Employment Opportunity Studies. Mrs. Mitchell, who is licensed to practice law in both New York and New Jersey, graduated from Hofstra University’s School of Law in June 2000 and is a graduate of the State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany, where she double majored in Criminal Justice and Political Science. Mrs. Mitchell has been the recipient of numerous awards and accolades including: Crain’s New York Business Notable Black Leaders and Executives Honoree, Athena International Award Honoree, Healthcare Leaders of New York Diversity Leadership Awardee, National Association of Minority Contractors Diversity Champion Awardee, Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson Woman of Distinction Honoree, Tri-State Diversity Council Healthcare Diversity Awardee, YWCA Community Champion Awardee, City & State Corporate Social Responsibility Awardee, National Diversity Council Most Powerful & Influential Woman Awardee, Diversity MBA Top 100 Under 50 Executive Leader Awardee. In 2020, Mrs. Mitchell was selected to lead the Hudson Valley’s Regional Covid-19 Health Equity Task Force. She was also nominated by Governor Andrew Cuomo, and confirmed by the NYS Senate, to serve as a member of the NYS Minority Health Council. Additionally, she serves on the Board of the United Way of Westchester and Putnam Counties and volunteers her time as a mentor for Judge Judy’s Her Honor Mentorship Program.