Oregon Forestry Official Placed On Leave After DEI Complaint Over Merit-Based Hiring

An official at Oregon’s Department of Forestry has been placed on administrative leave after a complaint from a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) trainer accused him of prioritizing merit-based hiring over diversity. Megan Donecker, the DEI trainer, was reportedly angered by her boss, Mike Shaw, who allegedly told her that his goal was to hire “the candidates most qualified for the job” rather than focusing on race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

Shaw, who holds a $192,000-per-year position as deputy head of the Oregon Department of Forestry, has been on administrative leave since August 6 following Donecker’s complaint. Donecker, who was previously in charge of the department’s DEI program, claimed that the work environment was unsafe for LGBTQ+ employees and criticized the lack of discussions around pronouns.

In her complaint, Donecker argued that six LGBTQ+ employees did not “feel safe or comfortable” at work due to the focus on merit rather than diversity in hiring practices. She expressed frustration with what she described as an “old boys club” culture within the department.

The situation gained public attention after an inquiry by The Oregonian, and Gov. Tina Kotek (D-OR) has become involved, reiterating her commitment to DEI initiatives. Kotek emphasized the importance of advancing DEI efforts in Oregon’s state departments.

Donecker, who describes herself as an “accomplice to marginalized communities” on her LinkedIn profile, resigned from the department in March, citing stress from the situation. She continues to work as a DEI consultant, living with her wife and their adopted child.

While Shaw remains on leave, the department has not provided specific reasons for his ongoing absence. Donecker’s complaint alleges that her DEI efforts were dismissed and that she was excluded from management meetings.