Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) Manager Blaine Williams has named Dr. Remy Epps as the new Inclusion Officer. Her first day in the position will be February 27, 2023. 

"The Inclusion Officer is a key position that works both internally in ACCGov and externally with the community to improve policies, make room for more voices, and create belonging," said Williams. "Remy’s leadership skills, thoughtful approach to problem-solving, background in analysis, and personality make her an excellent fit for this position to lead our inclusion efforts."

Epps most recently served as a Program Coordinator with Community in Schools for the Guilford County Schools in Greensboro, NC. She also worked for two years with the Outer Limits Offender Program as an instructor for at-risk populations where she implemented curriculum, evaluated additional educational needs, and collaborated with outside agencies. 

"I am excited and honored to join the Athens-Clarke County community and ACCGov team to help carry the inclusion baton," said Epps. "Service is at my core and the core of inclusion work. I am eager to roll up my sleeves, become heavily involved in the community to build sustainable relationships, and deeply dive into the current culture. Together we can work on the transformational process of building an organization and community that everyone wants to be - and is - a part of."

Prior to her service with the school district, Epps also interned in the public safety field with the Greensboro Police Department’s Assault and Criminal Investigative Divisions. Her public safety experience also included designation as a Certified First Responder for several sports with Reidsville High School.   

Epps holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from North Carolina Central University, a Master of Sociology with a concentration in Criminology through the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a PhD in Forensic Psychology from Walden University. Her research areas of interest include African American community and behavioral outcomes, juvenile delinquency, community and police relations, crime and gender, and race-ethnic inequalities. 

Assistant Manager Niki Jones and Assistant to the Manager Sarah George have helped administer the operations of the office while a national search was conducted for a permanent Inclusion Officer. 

The Inclusion Office was launched in the fall of 2019 as a division of the Manager’s Office. 

The office strategically collaborates with all Athens-Clarke County departments and offices, as well as the external community. It uses targeted strategies and these goals for all stakeholders in the community – not just the government – to understand, appreciate, and promote diversity in the community; begin to bridge the equity gap; and increase economic mobility. 

For more information on the Athens-Clarke County Inclusion Office, visit www.accgov.com/inclusion or call 706-613-3015.