InsideLowell has learned that Ineabelle Dominguez, Administrative Assistant to City Manager Tom Golden, has been selected as the City’s next Chief DEI Officer.

Dominguez has served in the Manager’s office since June 0f 2022. Prior to joining the city, she worked 22-years as a Probation Case Specialist for Lowell District Court from February of 2000 through June 0f 2022 according to her LinkedIn profile. She holds a certificate from Cornell University in Diversity & Inclusion Leadership and a degree from Middlesex Community College in Lowell.

Beginning in 2016, Dominguez was employed as the Cultural Proficiency Ambassador and worked on DEI initiatives with the Court System. Since joining the staff in the City Manager’s Office, she was appointed a co-facilitator of the Center of Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation for Middlesex Community College (“MCC”) and coordinated the first ever collaboration between the City of Lowell and MCC to offer DEI training courses to City Department Heads and seminars for other city employees.

“This City Council has, time and again stressed the importance of fostering a City workforce that is inclusive and that is positioned to serve Lowell’s diverse population,” said Manager Golden. “Ineabelle Dominguez has incredible emotional intelligence and an understanding of the systems and processes at City Hall which must be improved to facilitate a diverse and inclusive workplace. In her time with my office, to date, she has demonstrated the skills and abilities necessary for success in this new endeavor.”

Dominguez’ hiring fills the slot left vacant when Ferdousi Faruque, the first person to ever hold that position, resigned after four months on the job in April of 2022.

Faruque, made headlines on her way out the door, claiming in a WGBH interview she faced “a series of roadblocks” to her efforts” and “microaggressions” on the job. However, that claim was strongly rebuked by many in city leadership, most vocally by City Councilor Corey Robinson, Lowell’s first African-American City Councilor.

Since that time, filling the position has been a frequent topic of discussion on the Council floor, with motions requesting the City Manager update Councilors on progress in hiring someone.