HOUSTON (Dec. 30, 2021) — The Harris Health System Board of Trustees welcomes new trustee, Mia Mends, who was appointed during the Nov. 30, 2021, meeting of Harris County Commissioners Court.
“Harris Health's Board is pleased to welcome Mia Mends as a new member,” says Arthur W. Bracey, MD, chair, Harris Health System Board of Trustees. “She is an outstanding person with an extraordinarily strong record of achievement in many areas – including corporate and social pursuits. There is little doubt that she will be a great contributor to the mission of Harris Health – improving the health of those most in need.”
“I am honored to become a member of the Harris Health Board of Trustees,” says Mends. “World and national events have elevated the criticality of equity in all forms. In particular, health equity leads to better societal outcomes. Harris Health System’s inspiring mission is both purpose and results driven. I look forward to partnering with other members of the board and executive leadership to achieve our ambition.”
Mends is the Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, and CEO, Impact Ventures, for Sodexo, and also oversees Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Stop Hunger for Sodexo North America, and leads SodexoMAGIC, a joint venture between Sodexo and Magic Johnson Enterprises.
Mends founded her own nonprofit, Seven Sisters to Sisters, and serves on the boards of the EMERGE Fellows program, Catalyst and the Greater Houston Partnership. She sits on the Business Leadership Council at Wellesley College and the Harvard Business School African American Alumni Board, is a corporate director for H&R Block and Limeade, and has been recognized in BLACK ENTERPRISE'S 2019 Most Powerful Women in Corporate America. She holds a BA in economics from Wellesley College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
The Harris Health System Board of Trustees comprises nine members appointed by Harris County Commissioners Court, and the members serve two-year terms. The appointment of Mends was requested by Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, and her initial two-year term ends Nov. 1, 2023.