About me
Shalinee Hunter, J.D., is a civil rights and equity leader serving as the Equal Employment Opportunity Officer, Assistant Director, and Equity Lead for the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), where she provides enterprise-wide leadership for a workforce of more than 23,000 employees across 12 districts. A member of the Caltrans Executive Board, she directs statewide strategy to ensure compliance with Title VII and related federal and state civil rights laws while advancing evidence-based diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives that strengthen workplace culture, accountability, and access to opportunity. She oversees EEO investigations, policy development, training, and cross-departmental partnerships with Legal, Human Resources, and executive leadership, and advises on complex matters including discrimination prevention, religious accommodation, and systemwide equity strategy.
With more than two decades of experience in civil rights, justice systems reform, and public sector leadership, Hunter previously served with the California Civil Rights Department, Sacramento State University, and the Board of State and Community Corrections, where she led statewide efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in youth justice systems, developed racial impact statements, testified as an expert witness, and trained multidisciplinary stakeholders. Her work bridges legal expertise, data-driven decision-making, and organizational change management to help public institutions build fair, responsive systems. She holds a Juris Doctor from Lincoln School of Law and a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Washington State University, along with multiple certifications in investigations, ombuds practice, and equity-focused reform.
