APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) – Appleton’s new diversity and inclusion coordinator is in the midst of her first week on the job.
Karen Nelson explains her decision to come to Appleton.
“I look for opportunities where I can provide strategic direction and help create cultural competency in organizations and communities.”
Despite more than 25 years of experience managing diversity in private sector organizations, Nelson doesn’t plan to insist on replicating strategies used at her previous professional stops.
“All I simply look to do is serve as a collaborator and be a part of the team process to change. It’s not about any one person coming in with a magic wand, that is going to make everything all better in a short order.”
However, Nelson does feel her experience has taught her how to bring people closer together.
“You’re going to have supporters and detractors in any size city. I find my job is to simply be a facilitator to bring us all together, as closely as possible.”
Mayor Tim Hanna says Nelson’s duties include helping the city “be more aware of the growing diversity within our community and to attract a deeper pool of talent for the number of vacancies we know we’re going to have over the next several years.”
Nelson addresses recent racial tensions in Appleton, such as those following the May incident where an officer unintentionally shot an unarmed black man at Jack’s Apple Pub.
“What is important is being the voice of reason, being a spirit of calm, being respectful of all sides, and allowing everyone to be heard.”
In her most recent position, Nelson served as the lead consultant for NelStar Leadership and Diversity Consulting.
Prior to that, she worked as the corporate diversity manager for Shaw Industries and as manager of cultural diversity for General Electric Medical Systems.
Nelson received her executive master in business administration degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, after getting her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina.
Appleton’s diversity and inclusion coordinator position was first implemented in 1997 and has been vacant since Kathy Flores resigned last summer.
