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Jan 7, 2025
Employee News

City of Rochester welcomes new Chief Equity Officer

Portrait of Dr. Tara Jabbaar-Gyambrah

The City of Rochester is excited to announce that Dr. Tara Jabbaar-Gyambrah has joined as our new Chief Equity Officer. 

Dr. Jabbaar-Gyambrah brings over 20 years of experience in leadership development, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy, and higher education. Her dedication to building systems that foster meaningful change makes her an invaluable addition to our leadership team.

Dr. Jabbaar-Gyambrah has a bold vision to make Rochester a model for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in action. She is committed to embedding equitable practices across every aspect of our work—strengthening recruitment, enhancing professional development, and deepening how we engage with our community.

What to expect in the coming weeks:

  • Meet and greets: Throughout January, Dr. Jabbaar-Gyambrah will host a series of meetings with departments to better understand your roles, contributions, and perspectives. These discussions will lay the groundwork for collaboration.
  • Budget equity program Roadshows: Dr. Jabbaar-Gyambrah will participate in this initiative alongside Dr. Rose Nichols, Director of DHRM, and her assistant, Aishah Winter, highlighting how equity can be integrated into departmental budgets to enhance our impact.
  • Listening tours: In February, Dr. Jabbaar-Gyambrah will conduct listening sessions across departments to celebrate successes, identify areas for improvement, and refine our people strategies.

Dr. Jabbaar-Gyambrah’s approach emphasizes collaboration and recognizes that each of us plays a vital role in building a workplace where diversity fuels creativity, equity drives opportunity, and belonging inspires innovation. Her vision for “Building Unity in Community” aligns with our city’s commitment to creating a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to succeed.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Jabbaar-Gyambrah to the City of Rochester team. Together, we will continue to make Rochester a beacon of equity and inclusion for others to follow.