Panel Four: Perspective from the Public Sector

Lawrencina Mason Oramalu. Throughout her career, Lawrencina Mason Oramalu has been committed to using her skills to identify and remove barriers that hinder individuals from having access to educational, employment and government contracting opportunities.  Currently, Lawrencina serves as the Assistant Dean and Director of Multicultural Affairs at William Mitchell College of Law, where she is responsible for ensuring that the law school fulfills its multiculturalism vision.   Before coming to Mitchell, Lawrencina served as the Associate to the Director of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action at the University of Minnesota where she investigated discrimination and harassment complaints and conducted a variety of University-wide trainings on equity and diversity.  Before working in the EOAA Office, Lawrencina worked as the Associate Director at the Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice, where she oversaw the Center’s research projects addressing racial and ethnic disparities including the New Jersey Transit Disparity Study. Prior to working at the University, Lawrencina worked at the Public Strategies Group and at Minority Access, Inc., in Maryland.  She earned a B.A. in Political Science and Policy Studies from Rice University; a Masters from the Humphrey Institute, and a J.D. from William Mitchell. Lawrencina has spoken at local and national conferences including serving on the panel Less than the Best:  The Shocking Truth about Diversity in the Transportation Industry, at the 2008 Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference and moderating a panel Leveraging the Playing Field: Effective Strategies for DBE Goal Setting, at the 2011 National Forum for Black Public Administrators.

Wanda Kirkpatrick is the Director of the Office of Diversity and Equal Opportunity (ODEO) at the Metropolitan Council and like the rest of her staff has a passion for the work she accomplishes.  As Director Ms. Kirkpatrick is responsible for the Metropolitan Council’s strategic planning of affirmative action, diversity, equal employment opportunity and contractor compliance.  One of the critical parts of Ms Kirkpatrick’s position is the development and implementation of the Council’s Federal Disadvantaged Enterprise Program and the Federal W/MBE program required by the US Environmental Protection Agency.  The Award winning Metropolitan Council's DBE policy/plan directs the Council to utilize businesses owned and controlled by women, minorities and disadvantaged individuals in the procurement of goods and services, and the award of contracts.  Ms. Kirkpatrick was born in New Orleans, Louisiana but travel the world with her family.  Her father was in the Army and she married an Army man. Moving that often gave her a keen sense of the diversity of people.  During the 20 years of her husband’s military career she moved 17 times.  Every time they moved he had a job but she didn’t.  She knows how hard it is to break into a position.  Working in both the public and private sector around the world has given her a broad perspective on life and fuels her passion for her work. 

See ms. Kirkpatrick's presentation (PDF)

Mary Prescott is the newly appointed Director of the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at the Minnesota Department of Transportation.   Mary has been serving as the acting director since March 2009.  In this role, she has been leading OCR’s reorganization and working to increase participation of under-represented individuals and businesses on federally-funded construction projects. A major component of her position is to integrate the recommendations by the DBE and Workforce Collaborative into Mn/DOT’s external civil rights programs in a transformational and sustainable way and she is committed to this effort. Mary holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and has been with state government for 31 years, which includes 12 years with State Services for the Blind, five years with the Office of the Attorney General, and 14 years with Mn/DOT.  She also was a past president and board member of a nonprofit organization for 10 years. 

Derrell Turner is Minnesota Division Administrator at Federal Highway Administration. On January 19, 2009, Derrell became the Division Administrator (DA) for FHWA’s Minnesota Division Office.  Prior to his promotion to DA, he served as the Assistant Division Administrator in FHWA’s Arkansas Division Office for almost eight years.  His hometown is Talladega, Alabama.  After high school he attended the University of Alabama where he graduated in 1985 with a degree in civil engineering.  While in college he was a member of the college’s NCAA Track Team and worked for the Alabama Highway Department.  Upon college graduation he was hired into FHWA’s Highway Engineer Trainee Program (HETP).  While in the HETP, Derrell worked in Tennessee, Colorado, Arizona, and Louisiana.  As is the case with many of FHWA’s employees upon graduation from the HETP in 1987, Derrell worked in numerous locations and positions with FHWA. These include: Area Engineer/Environmental Coordinator, Louisiana Division Office, Project Development Specialist/NHI Instructor, HQ Office of Environmental Policy, Division Operations Engineer, South Carolina Division Office, and Assistant Division Administrator, Arkansas Division Office.

As the Division Administrator, Derrell and his multidisciplinary staff of 21 employees are responsible for administering the total Federal-aid Highway Program in Minnesota.  On average the value of that program is just over $600Mper year.   He provides guidance and direction to Mn/DOT and other transportation agencies/stakeholders in Minnesota on the implementation of the program in accordance with Federal laws, regulations, policies, and National transportation goals. Derrell and his wife, Bernadette, have three children – Jeremy, Ethan, and Morgan.  He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., a long/triple jump coach for Track Minnesota, and attends Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in St. Paul where he sings in the Men’s Choir.

Anita Bellant is Manager of Diversity and EEO at Metropolitan Airports Commission

Micah Hines is the Assistant Chief of Staff of Governor Mark Dayton. Prior to joining the Governor’s Office, Ms. Hines practiced law for over eight years. She is certified by the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and has tried over 150 cases to verdict. She is currently admitted to practice law before the Minnesota Supreme Court, Ohio Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Court for Maryland. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Congressman Parren J. Mitchell Foundation for Education and Talent Development and has been a guest speaker at various events around the country. Ms. Hines has a B.A. from Duke University in Political Science and African-American Studies. She received her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School where she was a Dean's Scholar.