Introducing Michael Twyman, Ph.D., Chief Equity and Innovation Officer

The Indianapolis Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Twyman, Ph.D. as Chief Equity and Innovation Officer effective July 15.

As Chief Equity and Innovation Officer, Dr. Twyman will lead the Foundation’s recently announced Center for Racial Equity and Economic Opportunity (CREEO), an initiative that will amplify the Foundation’s historic commitment to address racial and economic disparities in Indianapolis and Marion County—particularly for individuals and families in historically underserved and disinvested communities.

“I am pleased to welcome Michael to the team. As a subject matter expert in diversity, equity, inclusion and racial justice, he will help advance our work to develop innovative research-based solutions and scale exemplary practices to drive and track meaningful, systemic progress in advancing racial equity and economic opportunity both now and over time,” said Lorenzo Esters, president of the Indianapolis Foundation. “Michael will also coordinate the Foundation’s policy and advocacy work, through collaboration and convening that will build bridges and remove barriers to improve outcomes, so that everyone in our community can thrive in a changing economy.”

Since 2013, Twyman has served as managing principal of InExcelcis Consulting, a professional services firm focused on organizational effectiveness. Twyman is the founding Indiana grants director for Nina Mason Pullman Charitable Trust. He previously served as executive director of My Brother’s Keeper-Indianapolis and the Institute on Race & Ethnicity at the University of Arkansas—Little Rock. Earlier in his career, he was vice president of operations for Community Action of Indianapolis and a special assistant to former Indianapolis Mayor Goldsmith with a focus on neighborhood revitalization and resident engagement in communities of color and underinvested areas in the City.

“CREEO is a natural progression of the Indianapolis Foundation’s ongoing commitment to promoting and sustaining more equitable quality-of-life outcomes for all Marion County residents,” said Twyman. “I look forward to working in partnership with the Foundation team to develop the goals, objectives and success metrics for CREEO, and help create equitable opportunities for everyone to benefit from a competitive economy.”

An Indianapolis native, Twyman graduated magna cum laude from Fisk University in Nashville, TN and studied at London School of Economics on a Fulbright Scholarship from Vanderbilt University. He attended Tulane Law School in New Orleans, LA and earned a doctorate degree from Indiana University. He has served on a number of nonprofit boards and has taught courses in racial equity at the Indiana University School of Philanthropy.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Twyman to the Indianapolis Foundation. You can reach him at (317) 634-2423.

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