Speakers
Merridth Simpson is the Diversity and Inclusion Manager at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. She leads the strategic development and implementation of the Institution’s diversity and inclusion strategy, impacting nearly 15,000 faculty and staff. Merridth ensures that diversity and inclusion are essential components of the Institution’s core missions of research, education and patient care.
Merridth’s key responsibilities include building a diverse and inclusive culture that encompasses all hospitals and clinics. Merridth collaborates with human resources to develop strategies for talent management and employee engagement, and partners with communications and marketing departments to help guide institutional branding. Merridth leads the Institution in leveraging diversity and inclusion to improve patient care, eliminate health disparities, educate the next generation of doctors, and impact advancements in medical research. Merridth also serves on the UT Southwestern Human Resources Advisory Council, and Employee Recognition Committee.
Prior to joining UT Southwestern, Merridth held numerous leadership positions at Raytheon, an aerospace and defense contractor, in their Intelligence and Information Systems (IIS) business segment. There, she held positions spanning engineering operations, communications, human resources, and diversity.
Leading engineering operations she managed an operational budget of $26M capital and labor, handled workforce planning of nearly 3,000 scientists and technical professionals, and streamlined the business’ performance and development processes and employee engagement programs. She also spearheaded community outreach efforts in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). As diversity and inclusion lead, Merridth implemented a robust diversity and inclusion strategy; established core training; grew the maturity of nine Employee Resource Groups (ERGs); and steered several diversity councils.
Merridth is a member of the Society for Diversity, Executive Women in Texas Government, and Society of Women Engineers. She has been recognized by Dallas Business Journal’s Women on the Move, and is a recipient of the Texas Diversity Council’s DiversityFIRST™ Award. Merridth is active in the community, leading the women’s ministry at her church, and serving on the Board of Management for the Lakewest YMCA in Dallas.
Merridth is a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP) and holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Relations and Business. She and her husband recently celebrated 23 years of marriage, and have three children.