Monica Parham

Biography

Monica Parham is a sought-after D&I expert who provides consulting and programming on an array of diversity, inclusion, and talent-facing matters. She has spoken widely in the area of diversity and inclusion, and has held a number of D&I leadership roles, including President of the Association of Law Firm Diversity Professionals, President of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia (the fourth African-American President in the organization's now 101 year history), and President of the Women’s Bar Association Foundation.

Monica previously served as Diversity Counsel / Head of Diversity at a major international law firm. Under her leadership, the firm received a number of D&I-facing recognitions, including multi-year recognition as one of Working Mother’s Best Law Firms for Women, multi-year 100% scores on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and recognition for a cutting-edge sponsorship program. Prior to serving as Diversity Counsel, Monica spent 12 years in practice as a Commercial Litigator.

From a family of educators, Monica is passionate about access and education as key components of inclusion and empowerment. She currently sits on two philanthropic Boards and Chairs a scholarship committee focused on public high school and public charter high school students in the District of Columbia. She also serves on a University Honors College Advisory Board, and has facilitated conversations at both the undergraduate and graduate levels about issues of access and opportunity.

Monica is a graduate of the Yale Law School, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she was Phi Beta Kappa and a Morehead-Cain Scholar.

Achievements

• Named, in March 2018, to the Federal Communication Commission's Advisory Committee on Diversity and Digital Empowerment (ACDDE) and the ACDDE's Diversity in Tech Working Group, focusing on the hiring, promotion, and retention of women and minorities in tech industries.