Michelle Wimes

Michelle P. Wimes, JD, is the senior vice president and Chief Equity and Inclusion Officer at Children’s Mercy. In this role, she develops equity and inclusion strategy that represents the perspective of patients, families, employees, community partners, and suppliers. She is a strategic advisor and educator to Children’s Mercy; uses data to assess cultural competency and develops action plans to close gaps; and collaborates with leadership to address health disparity and foster a workplace culture of inclusion.

Michelle holds a JD degree from Tulane Law School, completed graduate studies at the University of Seville in Spain, and earned undergraduate degrees from the University of Missouri in communication arts and Spanish language and literature.

She joined Children’s Mercy from Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C., one of the nation’s largest labor and employment law firms where, as Chief Diversity and Professional Development Officer, she led efforts to attract, develop, and promote a diverse group of attorneys across the firm’s 53 offices. She previously practiced law at marquee law firms in Kansas City, handling employment, immigration, and civil rights litigation, providing counsel to public school districts, and using her language skills in Spanish and Portuguese to defend clients in suits filed in U.S. and Latin American courts.

Ms. Wimes is nationally known for her writings and presentations on professional development and diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In the community, she currently serves on the board of the University of Missouri Kansas City. Throughout her career, she has held board and committee positions for dozens of nonprofit organizations addressing education, domestic violence, health care, and the arts.