Traci J. DeShazor

Recognized by Virginia Business as an Impact Maker and one of the "Top 100 People to Meet in 2022," DeShazor is one of Virginia’s leading public administrators. As a social impact and racial equity strategist with experience at the federal, state, and local levels of government, DeShazor has led groundbreaking initiatives at the intersection of justice and equity.

Professionally, DeShazor serves as the first-ever chief equity officer for the City of Richmond, Virginia, where she supports the mayor’s guaranteed income pilot, oversees the Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Office of Aging and Disability Services, and the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Engagement; and where she is responsible for the successful implementation and operationalization of the mayor’s Equity Agenda. Prior to this role, DeShazor served in various capacities in the administrations of Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe. While serving at the state level, DeShazor was at the forefront of some of the commonwealth's most progressive policy initiatives and acted as a senior advisor to the governors.

As a proud Virginia Tech alumna, DeShazor has served her alma mater in a number of capacities at the chapter and university level. As the inaugural diversity, equity, and inclusion chair of the D.C. Hokies, DeShazor created events like the ACC Black Alumni Happy Hour and Backpack Drive that brought together more than 300 ACC Black alumni for a night of networking and community service, the first-ever Hispanic Heritage Month film screening, and an intergenerational Women’s History month panel discussion and feminine hygiene product drive. It was DeShazor’s service at the chapter level that encouraged her to deepen her service to the university. Most recently, DeShazor supported the 2018 and 2020/21 Virginia Tech Black Alumni Reunions. As reunion co-chairman, she helped lead the university’s first-ever virtual Black Alumni Reunion during the COVID-19 pandemic and the record-breaking 2018 reunion which brought more than 600 Black alumni back to Blacksburg. In this role, she also helped realize the reunion’s inaugural step exhibition and tailgate. DeShazor now serves at the university level as a member of the Virginia Tech Foundation Board of Directors and the Virginia Tech Alumni Association Board of Directors.

Additionally, DeShazor is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated where she serves as a Virginia social action coordinator, organizing members across the commonwealth to elevate the sorority’s legislative agenda and advocate for social justice.