Wendy McRae-Owoeye, Brown University
Wendy joined Brown University in 2005 as an experienced human resources professional in managing diversity, equal employment opportunity, affirmative action, compliance, mediation, employee relations, and labor relations in Corporate America and Academia. She has directed and managed labor negotiations for labor/unions, employment disputes, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints, Americans with Disabilities complaints, sexual harassment, and discrimination investigations at the American Arbitration Association, Unilever Best Foods, Coca-Cola, General Electric, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, and Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights.
Prior to Brown, Wendy served as the Regional Human Resources Director at Unilever managing seven sites including two corporate offices in the United States and Puerto Rico. As the Divisional Human Resources Manager at Coca-Cola, she successfully defended the company’s interest in all Office of Federal Compliance Contract Program Audits, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Massachusetts Commission against Discrimination, and Affirmative Action Plan audits and oversaw the management and administration of performance reviews, performance evaluations, hires and terminations. As the former Director of Employee Relations and Performance Development at Brown, Wendy confidentially guided staff and management through the process of developing answers, solutions and strategies to deal fairly, legally and effectively with issues that impact performance, organizational effectiveness, and morale.
In her current and expanded role at Brown University as Director of Staff Diversity and University Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Officer, Wendy continues to create a “culture of diversity and inclusion.” She coaches, mediates, and resolves conflict involving sensitive concerns. She is well known for a variety of reasons at Brown and in the professional community for her popular Diversity Training Series and culturally sensitive mediation skills. Wendy’s additional job responsibilities include, but are not limited to: EEO/AA compliance, conflict resolution, discrimination and sexual harassment, the in-take and management of complaints, investigations, developing Brown’s Annual Affirmative Action Plans, spearheading Brown’s new Diversity Supplier initiatives and Task Force for Women, Minority, and Disadvantaged Owned Businesses and extended services as needed.
Education and Training: Wendy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and English from Rutgers University in New Jersey and a Juris Doctorate from Roger Williams University School of Law in Rhode Island. She is certified in Diversity Management by Cornell University in New York and certified as a mediator by Cambridge Dispute Settlement Center in Massachusetts. Wendy’s certifications as a trainer include: Development Dimensions International, PRISM Solutions Training Group, and Recruiting for Diversity in Law Enforcement: Outreach Strategies for Creating Multicultural Organizations.
Wendy’s hobbies: In her spare time, she loves being a mother. With the support and creativity of her son and mother, she has launched ECHO RESPECT, LLC, a diversity and inclusion consulting company. Wendy also enjoys giving back and helping others. She currently serves on:
- Brown University President’s Staff Advisory Council
- Brown University Diversity Advisory Board
- Miriam Hospital Board of Governors
- Miriam Hospital Board of Ethics
- OIC Board - Center for the New Economy in Rhode Island