Grand Rapids attorney named to affirmative action position at Grand Valley

A Grand Rapids attorney was named the new assistant vice president for Affirmative Action at Grand Valley.

Dwight K. Hamilton will start his new job at Grand Valley on January 7. The announcement was made by Jeanne Arnold, vice president for Inclusion and Equity. Hamilton will report to Arnold.

Hamilton established his own law firm in 2008 after working for two Grand Rapids firms: Miller Johnson; and Smith, Haughey, Rice and Roegge. He also served as corporate counsel for Steelcase Inc. from 1998-2002. While at Steelcase, Hamilton was instrumental in filing a corporate brief in 2006 in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of many Fortune 500 companies in support of the University of Michigan’s admissions policies.

"I was asked to file a brief in support of the University of Michigan, and get support from other corporations," Hamilton said. "The brief was filed on behalf of 20 Fortune 500 companies. It showed that the business sector supported the university's efforts to create a diverse campus, which would contribute to a diverse workforce that would better compete in the global marketplace."

Arnold said Hamilton's expertise in affirmative action issues will "significantly enhance our work in this area. We are very fortunate to have found someone of his caliber to join our Inclusion and Equity team."

Hamilton also assisted the Grand Rapids Area Chamber of Commerce in its opposition of Proposal 2, the 2006 state constitutional amendment that banned public institutions from discriminating against or giving preferential treatment based on criteria like race or gender. At the time, he served on the chamber’s executive council as vice chair of advocacy.

Hamilton earned a law degree from Wayne State University in 1995 and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Michigan State University in 1991.

He said the position at Grand Valley is a perfect blend of his professional experience and community involvement. "As a lawyer, I have worked on discrimination issues and my community involvement has revolved around inclusion issues," he said.

Along with the Grand Rapids Chamber, Hamilton also served on the board for the West Michigan Film Video Alliance, Multiracial Association of Professionals, Dispute Resolution Center of West Michigan and Cherry Street Health Services, among other organizations.