ABQ Times

The City of Albuquerque has filled a critical role in the Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI), announcing that Dillon Shige has joined as deputy director. Dillon joins the City as a Councilman and Tribal Leader from the Pueblo of Zia and a Founding Board Member of the Pueblo Development Commission NGO. Dillon is an advocate for Indigenous rights, environmental justice, and the advancement of Native Health. He aims to further the perspectives of the Pueblo Peoples of New Mexico across global Indigenous issues.

“Our vision when creating this office was to have a department within the City that would be entirely focused on addressing racial disparities so that as Albuquerque grows, no one is left behind anymore,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “To be able to bring on Dillon, with his long history of advocacy work, is a huge win for the City and for the community.”

Prior to joining the City of Albuquerque, Dillon worked as a State Platforms and Resolutions Committee (SPARC) Member for the Democratic Party of New Mexico, a Native American Senate Central Committee (SCC) Member, and was a Health Advisor to 20 Pueblo Sovereign Nations of New Mexico and Texas. Before his advocacy work, Dillon was a professional runner and Division I Cross Country National Champion.

“We are so happy to welcome Dillon to the team,” said Sonya Lara, Director of the Office of Equity and Inclusion. “We are confident that the experiences and knowledge that Dillon brings will be a valuable addition to the work that we are doing to dismantle systemic barriers in the City.”

Dillon is a graduate of Leadership New Mexico’s Connect Program, ASU’s Indigenous Leadership Institute, holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in History and Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado-Boulder, and has completed a Pre-Med Post Baccalaureate from the University of Arizona and the University of New Mexico. Additionally, Dillon is recognized as an Aspen Institute Future Climate Leader and a Schusterman Philanthropies Reality Sports Fellow.