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Recognized for her community and leadership excellence, Fink receives the award and delivers the keynote address at 2023 Arizona LGBTQ+ Unity Summit

SM������ is pleased to announce that Julie Fink, vice president of human resources, is a recipient of the 2023 Arizona LGBTQ+ Leader Award by the Arizona Diversity Council (AZDC), an organization committed to fostering a learning environment for organizations to grow and leverage their knowledge of diversity. Award recipients were honored at the , “The Evolution of Pride: Transformative DEI,” on June 8, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona, where Fink also delivered the keynote address.

“Julie is a strong, principled people leader and this award is a powerful testament to her work,” states Cheryl Naumann, SPHR, chief human resources officer. “Her focus on making sure our team members have a true sense of belonging within our workplace community has been instrumental in building our culture here at SM������.”

The Arizona LGBTQ+ Leader Award recognizes leaders who identify as members of the LGBTQ+ community and serve as role models with high visibility, striving to promote inclusiveness in the workplace, championing LGBTQ+ protections, and sustaining a record of influencing positive change in the community.

"We proudly recognize Julie Fink as our 2023 LGBTQ+ Leader Awardee,” states Onjalai Brown, Business Development and Event Programmer at National Diversity Council. “It is imperative to acknowledge leaders for their dedication to fostering an inclusive work environment for the LGBTQ+ community. Julie is a champion for DEI and the impact goes beyond Arizona. She has partnered with the National Diversity Council as speaker and facilitator for NDC's Certification Program and became a Certified Diversity Professional herself. Now we get to take a moment to spotlight how incredible she is.”

The Summit is a event and welcomes employers, LGBTQ+ community members and allies from across the region to join in a day dedicated to supporting participants candidly discussing the benefits and challenges that accompany the effective inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender team members in the workplace. Speakers and attendees explore how organizations can better serve their LGBTQ+ employees, customers and clients, as well as the importance of the LGBTQ+ community and its allies both in the workforce and within the community. Fink’s keynote address, “This is Why We’re Here,” opened the event.

"This Summit is one of many important events to provide perspective, best practices and celebration for those in and allies of the LGBTQ+ community,” states Fink. “I have a responsibility as both a senior leader in my company, in society and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community to continue to step out, speak up and come out every day to make the workplace and society a more welcoming, accepting place.”

In her current role as vice president of Human Resources, Fink and her team are responsible for HR support to the Chief Human Resources Officer providing strategic direction and leadership to a team of human resources directors and business partners to achieve effective and consistent implementation and execution of applicable human resources strategies within all business units. Fink serves on the SM������ President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) and is the executive sponsor of the Employee Resources Groups (ERGs). She is a certified diversity professional through the National Diversity Council.

Fink was instrumental in launching the University’s first ERGs which have grown from two to five over the past six years, now with over 1,000 members. She also led efforts to support the University achieving a 100% score on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index for five consecutive years. This achievement established SM������ as a .

Fink has been with the SM������ since 2012.

The AZDC serves as a resource for diversity best practices and leadership development in the Arizona region through a variety of events and programs, including the Summit and the awards. .

About SM������

SM������ is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.��