Anthony Pegues Named Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice

Defenders of Wildlife is pleased to announce Anthony Pegues as Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ). He will lead the development and execution of DEIJ initiatives in support of Defenders’ Strategic plan as well as the integration of best practices into our operations and culture. He will also serve as a key advisor on substantive internal and external-facing DEIJ strategies, policies and processes to ensure that the efforts align with, support and advance Defenders’ mission.

“We are thrilled to have Anthony Pegues as our vice president of DEIJ, working across the whole organization to help ensure that DEIJ-based objectives are embedded throughout our conservation programs and workplace culture,” said Defenders' Former President and CEO Jamie Rappaport Clark. “He joins Defenders with a wealth of experience in DEI implementation, human resources management, professional and workforce development and education.”

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Anthony Pegues

Pegues brings 14 plus years of experience in corporate, government and education sectors, which includes most recently serving as senior program manager/chief of staff of the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Cerner Government Services. He also previously worked as program manager of employment services at the Arlington County Department of Human Services, director of human capital and inclusion at Knowledge Advantage, Inc, and the regional workforce development, employment and training director at the Lancaster County Department of Social Services. 

“I am excited to join Defenders to help strengthen our workforce and broaden the constituency for the protection of wildlife and plants in their natural communities,” said Pegues. “My professional experience, background in human resources and passion for environmental and wildlife issues will help further integrate DEIJ principles into our programs and operations in the service of our wildlife conservation mission.”

Originally from Cheraw, South Carolina, Pegues has a deep appreciation for conservation and strong ethic of volunteerism in local organizations. He is a proud graduate of Winthrop University, where he obtained a BA in Political Science. He has a MBA from Strayer University and completed PhD studies (all but dissertation) at Capella University. He also holds a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Certification from University of South Florida and a Human Resources Certificate from George Mason University.