Cecilia Newman

Cecilia Newman is the senior Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) program manager at the American Institutes for Research (AIR). In this role, Cecilia facilitates the prioritization and implementation of the DEI strategy and framework to drive authentic engagement, integration, and accountability with AIR workforce. She engages with AIR leadership to align comprehensive DEI processes and policies to support business growth strategy.

In addition, Cecilia directs the efforts of the DEI Council, the eight employee resource groups (ERGs), and the Cultural & Linguistic Competence (CLC) Workgroup. She also measures and evaluates AIR’s DEI strategies, programs, and policies through benchmarking with Diversity Best Practices, DiversityInc, Diversity MBA, Disability Equality Index, and Global Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Benchmarks.

Some key accomplishments within her time at AIR include the oversight of the Annual DEI Leaders’ Summit (50+ attendees) to explore DEI vision, measure progress, and establish equity-focused action plans, including an audit, talk series, repository, and review process. She also developed the DEI Council Policy and Procedures Manual, which outlined the best practices, policies, and processes, and she oversaw the launch of the Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Standards throughout AIR, including pilot trainings, e-learning intro course, and development of tip sheets and assessment tool.

Prior to joining AIR, Cecilia was the director of Program Management for the Latino Corporate Directors Association (LCDA) where she promoted the supply of high-caliber Latino boardroom candidates in corporate America. With a small team, Cecilia managed not only the governance of the LCDA board of directors but also managed the membership growth strategies to expand the demand for Latino talent. Her highlight includes the execution of Inaugural LCDA Board Convening, with more than 80 attendees. Cecilia previously worked as the Corporate Partnerships manager at the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility (HACR) and as the associate manager of College Programs at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI).

Cecilia has a Master of Business Administration from American University Kogod School of Business, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology and Latino studies from New York University. She embraces her cultural heritage from Ecuador, South America.