Carrboro Fire Chief Susanna Williams was recently appointed to the International Association of Fire Chiefs Human Relations Committee.

The IAFC is an organization that provides information on how to create, adopt and implement several proceedings on interpersonal and intergroup adjustments relating to diversity its members.

The goal is that fire departments can then create and implement a Value Centered Human Relations Approach program within their own fire department.

“I am deeply honored to have been selected for the IAFC Human Relations Committee.  Diversity and inclusion have long been a passion of mine for the fire service,” said Williams.

Williams was selected for the three-year appointment from a pool of interested people by a committee with the IAFC, including IAFC’s president, who select which candidates would best serve the Human Relations Committee.

Williams says she hopes her experiences in IAFC will help increase diversity and inclusion in Carrboro.

“My personal values, the values of the IAFC, and the values of the Town of Carrboro align in a zero tolerance policy of discrimination as exemplified in the IAFC Human Dignity statement,” said Williams.

The statement reads, “as an organization, we must take positive steps to ensure human dignity by avoiding all remaining vestiges of discrimination or unequal treatment including, but not limited to, a basis on race, color, spirituality, gender, age, national origin, ancestry, socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status or any legally protected characteristic.”

“To allow such discrimination or unequal treatment, whether active or passive, weakens our abilities to respond to our varied customer bases,” Williams said.

Williams holds two bachelor degrees, a Masters in Public Administration and many fire service certifications. She also instructs and presents at the local, state and national levels and is co-chair for the NC Accreditation Support Consortium.

Williams is a graduate of the Fire Service Executive Development Institute and is working on becoming an Executive Fire Officer through the National Fire Academy.

She has been with the Town of Carrboro as Fire Chief since July 2015.

For more information, visit the Carrboro Fire Department’s website.

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