Mike Shaw, the deputy head of Oregon’s Department of Forestry, has been placed on administrative leave after a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) trainer accused him of hiring based on qualifications instead of diversity. Megan Donecker, who led the DEI program at the department, filed the complaint after Shaw reportedly told her he aimed to hire “the most qualified candidates” for the job, not based on their identity.
Donecker’s complaint has kept Shaw on leave since August 6, claiming that the department’s hiring practices made LGBTQ+ employees feel unsafe. She alleged that the department’s focus on merit instead of DEI created an environment where six LGBTQ+ staff members couldn’t have a “conversation around pronouns.”
Gov. Tina Kotek (D-OR) has expressed her support for DEI initiatives, stating that such complaints need to be handled with seriousness. Kotek emphasized the importance of fostering a more inclusive work environment across Oregon’s state agencies.
Donecker, who describes herself as an “accomplice to marginalized communities,” no longer works at the forestry department. She resigned in March, citing stress from the lack of support for her DEI efforts. She continues her work as a DEI consultant and lives with her wife and their adopted child.
Shaw, who earns a salary of $192,000, has not returned to work and the department has not clarified the reasons for his extended leave. Donecker’s complaint claimed that her DEI work was dismissed and that she was excluded from key management discussions.
