City Fills Key Role in Equity and Inclusion

The City of Albuquerque has filled a critical role in the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI), announcing that Dillon Shije has joined as deputy director. Dillon joins the City as a Councilman and Tribal Leader from the Pueblo of Zia and a Founding Board Member of the Pueblo Development Commission NGO. Dillon is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and the advancement of Native Health. He is passionate about furthering the perspectives of the Pueblo Peoples of New Mexico across global Indigenous issues.

“Our vision when creating this office was to have a department within the City that would be entirely focused on addressing racial disparities so that as Albuquerque grows, no one is left behind anymore,” saidMayor Tim Keller. “To be able to bring on Dillon, with his long history of advocacy work, is a huge win for the City and for the community.”

Previous to coming on board with the City of Albuquerque, Dillon worked as a State Platforms and Resolutions Committee (SPARC) Member for the Democratic Party of New Mexico, a Native American Senate Central Committee (SCC) Member, and was a Health Advisor to 20 Pueblo Sovereign Nations of New Mexico and Texas. Before his advocacy work, Dillon was a professional runner and Division I Cross Country National Champion.  

“We are so happy to welcome Dillon to the team,” said Sonya Lara, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion. “We are confident that the experiences and knowledge that Dillon brings will be a valuable addition to the work that we are doing to dismantle systemic barriers in the City.” 

Dillion is a graduate of the Leadership New Mexico’s Connect Program, ASU’s Indigenous Leadership Institute, has dual Bachelor’s degrees in History and Integrative Physiology from the university of Colorado- Boulder, and a Pre-Med Post Baccalaureate from the University of Arizona and the University of New Mexico. Additionally, Dillion is recognized as an Aspen Institute Future Climate Leader and a Schusterman Philanthropies Reality Sports Fellow.