Karrah Herring
Karrah Herring is an American lawyer who was appointed as Indiana's first Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer by Governor Eric Holcomb and served as CEIOO from November 2020 until January 2025.
Early life and education
Herring was born in South Bend, Indiana. She earned a Bachelors of Arts in Communications/Public Relations from Purdue University in 2005 and a Juris Doctor from Valparaiso University in 2011.Career
For a decade, Herring worked at the University of Notre Dame. She was the Director of Public Affairs in the Office of Public Affairs and Communications at the university. Then prior to this role, she was the Director of the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX Coordinator. As the Director of the Office of Institutional Equity and Title IX Coordinator, Herring oversaw workplace compliance with federal and state laws. This included Title IX, Title VII, ADA, EEO, and affirmative action.In November 2020, Governor Eric Holcomb appointed Herring as Indiana's first Chief Equity, Inclusion and Opportunity Officer. This position was created after Holcomb announced in an address to the state in August 2020 actions that would be taken to "reduce racial inequity in the Hoosier State".
In her first year in the newly created position, Herring was stated to have "engaged with more than 200 stakeholders" from around the state which included businesses, government agencies, higher education, non-for-profits, and faith communities.
Most notably, her office created the state's first . This portal was a resource that Hoosiers could use to track equity throughout the state of Indiana as it related to Health, Public Safety, Social Services, Education, and Workforce. It was meant to reveal shortcomings across the state.
Under her leadership the state's Office of the CEIOO oversaw the initiative, the Next Level training program, and the, the campaign.
In partnership with the Small Business Development Center, the Office of the CEIOO published 4 : Q1 2023, Q4 2022, Q3 2022, and Q2 2022.
Then in 2023, the Office of CEIOO created three that focused on North, Central, and Southern parts of Indiana.
It was in January 2025, that incoming Governor Mike Braun signed a series of 9 executive orders. One of those executive orders eliminated diversity, equity, and inclusion in state government. This executive order shuttered the state's Office of CEIOO and removed Herring's position from the governor of Indiana's cabinet, along with four other employees.
Since 2015, Herring has owned and operated Lucy Mina Consulting.
Selected awards
- 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award from Purdue University.
- 2022 Forty Under 40, Indianapolis Business Journal.
- 2023 Key to the City, South Bend, IN.
- 2023 Indiana 250 - Civic Leadership, IBJ Media.
- 2023 Rosa Parks Trailblazer Award, Indiana Minority Business Magazine.