Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion Names Alexandria Wilson New Executive Director

The Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion welcomes its new Executive Director, Alexandria M. Wilson - a procurement professional with extensive experience in supplier diversity, policy implementation, contract negotiation, and legal analysis. Selected by Governor J.B. Pritzker, Wilson started her role on May 8, 2023.

Most recently, Wilson served as the first Chief of Supplier Diversity for the Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology, where she successfully maximized supplier diversity by developing processes and procedures to make the procurement process inclusive, fair, and equitable while providing support, education, and mentorship to diverse businesses.

Previously, Wilson also served as Procurement Specialist, State Purchasing Officer, Policy Advisor, and Procurement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager with the Illinois Chief Procurement Office for General Services. In her final role as the Procurement Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Manager, Wilson facilitated best practices in diversity, equity, and inclusion procurement issues, developed metrics to aid and support strategic planning, designed portfolio policies that reinforced supplier diversity in procurement, engaged in contract negotiations, and promoted diverse vendor relationships.

"I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as the Executive Director of the Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion," said Alexandria Wilson. "I am committed to working closely with communities, organizations, institutions, and government agencies to advance equity initiatives in procurement and the workplace statewide. Together, we will address systemic barriers by creating a more equitable and inclusive Illinois for all."

Wilson graduated from Tuskegee University with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science before earning her Juris Doctorate from the University of Missouri School of Law. She then went on to earn her Certified Professional Public Buyer certification from the Universal Public Procurement Certification Council and a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion leadership certification from Northwestern University.

The Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion (CEI) was created through the passage of 30 ILCS 574/40-10, beginning operations January 2022. CEI was established to increase access to state contracts for small businesses owned by minorities, women, persons with disabilities, veterans, and service disabled veterans, and to enhance equity and inclusion throughout State workforce.