Athens-Clarke County (ACCGov) Manager Blaine Williams announces that Inclusion Officer Krystle Cobran has resigned from her position effective December 10, 2021.

"It is an extraordinary honor to have been selected by the Manager’s Office to serve alongside our community members, elected officials, leadership, and staff as the first Inclusion Officer for Athens-Clarke County," says Cobran. "Nothing that this office accomplishes happens in isolation, and I am deeply appreciative to each person, team member, and institution who has courageously shared experiences and perspective, provided us with feedback, worked with us to shape policies and practices, partnered with us to take coordinated action, and been willing to join with us in this ongoing work."

"Though I am transitioning out of the role of Inclusion Officer," she says, "I remain grateful to countless individuals who have come before me, and who continue to advance inclusion, diversity, and equity throughout our community and local government each day."

Athens-Clarke County Manager Blaine Williams has named Selah Gardiner, Community Education Analyst with the Inclusion Office, to serve as Interim Inclusion Officer until a national search is conducted for the position.

"Krystle broke critical ground in serving as ACCGov’s first Inclusion Officer and will be missed," says Williams. "I am grateful for her incredible skillset at building trust and scaling this long overdue effort. She and her team have created an excellent foundation for this office’s work in diversity, inclusion, and equity efforts both inside ACCGov and within the community. She has helped to construct bridges that we must continue to fortify to make this government and community places where all people feel they belong."

The Inclusion Office, a division of the Manager’s Office and based in City Hall, was created by the Mayor and Commission as part of the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. The office’s core purpose is to create a better Athens Together by closing the gaps, expanding access, and improving outcomes.

For more information on the Inclusion Office, visit www.accgov.com/inclusion.