Press Release

Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman LLP is proud to announce that Dr. Cassandra D. Caldwell has been named the firm's Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer. In this role, she will provide strategic leadership as the firm advances its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) through professional development, support initiatives, outreach, and external partnerships.

An internationally renowned expert in DEI, Dr. Caldwell brings decades of leadership experience in driving tangible, sustainable results with sophisticated organizations, including Visa, General Electric, Sodexo, GlaxoSmithKline, and North Carolina State University. She has worked with these organizations and others to develop and elevate their strategic approaches to DEI, yielding benefits through improved recruitment, engagement, development, and retention on an enterprise level.

"Akerman has long held diversity, equity, and inclusion, throughout our entire firm, as core values that form the foundation of our culture, which is based on integrity, respect, and fairness," said Scott Meyers, Akerman Chairman and CEO. "DEI advances our commitment to social responsibility, improves our innovation and creativity, enhances our decision-making, connects us to our clients, colleagues, and communities, and empowers and engages our employees. By embracing DEI, we create a more equitable, thriving, inclusive, and successful law firm environment.  We are very grateful to have a professional of Dr. Caldwell’s stature leading our efforts in this extremely important area of focus."

In addition to being a leader in the corporate world, Dr. Caldwell has served as an instructor in the Cornell University Diversity and Inclusion Certification Program and as an appointed advisor to the U.S. Census on the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic, and Other Populations. She has also served as an adjunct faculty at several schools, including the University of Maryland, North Carolina Central University, Seton Hall University, and the University of Houston.

Dr. Caldwell has a Ph.D. in human and community resource development from The Ohio State University. She earned her master's degree from North Carolina Central University and a bachelor's from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Recognition for Akerman's DEI initiatives includes receiving the Top Performer and Compass Award by The Leadership Counsel on Legal Diversity, obtaining "Mansfield 5.0 Plus Certification for Diversity," and being named among the "Best Places to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality" by the Human Rights Campaign. Law360 also ranked the firm among the top 10 large firms for diversity.

 

About Akerman

Akerman LLP is a national Am Law 100 law firm recognized among the most forward-thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth.

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