Lea S. Gutierrez is the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the American Lung Association and serves as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Prior to joining the American Lung Association, Gutierrez served as the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office where she was responsible for leading the development and implementation of proactive diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives designed to optimize organizational culture and align the organization’s DEI goals with organizational outcomes.
Prior to joining the State’s Attorney's Office, Gutierrez was the founding Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois (ARDC). For six years, Gutierrez pioneered the ARDC’s efforts to recruit diverse attorneys, promote a culture of inclusion, and create methods for increased public accessibility to the ARDC. While serving as Director of D&I, Gutierrez also held concurrent roles as Senior Litigation Counsel and Litigation Manager, supervising a litigation team responsible for investigating and prosecuting allegations of lawyer misconduct.
She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Hampton University in Virginia, her law degree from Temple University School of Law in Pennsylvania and her Master of Forensic Sciences from The George Washington University in Washington D.C. She also received her Executive Certificate in Strategic Diversity and Inclusion Management from Georgetown University in Washington D.C and her Graduate Certificate in Organizational Behavior from Harvard Extension School.
Gutierrez serves on multiple committees dedicated to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession including the Illinois State Bar Association’s Special Committee on Racial Inequality, the Chicago Bar Association’s YLS Racial Justice Coalition, and the American Bar Association Center for Professional Responsibility’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. She has published articles and designed and presented educational programs for various bar association and law firm events on topics related to professional responsibility, lawyer regulation, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Gutierrez is a novelty seeking pianist who enjoys spending time with her family.
