CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Familiarity with the commission and its leadership is why Jill Upson feels confident moving forward as the new executive director of the West Virginia Women’s Commission.
Upson, who also serves as the executive director of the Herbert Henderson Office of Minority Affairs (HHOMA), was named as the leader of the commission on Sept. 23.
Upson told MetroNews it’s a natural fit because she has worked with previous commission director Julie Palas in the past.
“We have worked together collaborative during my entire tenure at HHOMA. To move into the position as executive director is really not that far of a stretch for me,” she said.
Upson continued, “We’ve worked together quite a bit and it really does make the transition a lot smoother. We have a fantastic working relationship so she (Palas) and I call each other, email each other, so it makes things go a lot smoother.”
A department release cited Upson’s support of the commission as a reason for her appointment. Upson has been involved in multiple organization events, including the annual Women’s and Girls’ Day at the state Legislature and Women’s History Month.
Upson said she plans to blend the calendars of HHOMA and the commission. She is also looking to hire an executive assistant and part-time clerk soon.
The commission’s executive director position has been open since 2016; Palas has served in an interim role. Upson said the commission is composed of an 18-person board that meets with community partners to determine public policy issues impacting women. It also does community outreach on women’s issues.
Upson also serves on the Martin Luther King Jr. State Holiday Commission, COVID-19 African American Task Force for Racial Disparities, and the Women’s Suffragist Memorial Committee.