POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro has announced the appointment of the county’s first equal employment opportunity and inclusion officer.
In that role, Josayne Anderson-Tejera will be responsible for increasing the diversity of the county government’s workforce as well as the 73 municipal workforces the county oversees.
“Dutchess County boasts a diverse tapestry of residents with varying cultures and beliefs that greatly benefits our community and makes us unique, and Dutchess County Government continuously endeavors to attain a workforce that mirrors that valuable mix of abilities, experiences and ideas,” said Molinaro. “I’m confident that as Dutchess County’s new Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion Officer, Josayne Anderson-Tejera will help diversify our workforce even more, having the background and understanding necessary to help us more fully obtain that objective. I look forward to Josayne’s efforts to expand the county’s diverse labor pool even further, and ensure our workforce is representative of the residents we serve.”
Anderson-Tejera joins Dutchess County Government following over seven years of service with the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision where she began as correction officer at Downstate Correctional Facility in Fishkill, then the Fishkill Correctional Facility. She was promoted to investigator in the internal affairs unit, where she conducted investigations to prevent and deter improper behavior, including allegations of discrimination, staff misconduct or serious assaults in the workplace.
She most recently served as the acting equal opportunity specialist in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, where she participated in the implementation of diversity and equal opportunity initiatives.
Jody Miller has most recently been the Dutchess County equal employment officer and chairwoman of the county’s human rights commission. She will now focus on the Commission on Human Rights.
Anderson-Tejera, who assumes her new role on November 2, will earn $82,500 annually.
