HOUSTON – Texas Lawyer reports that Rosa Walker, formerly the Director of Administration for Pillsbury’s Austin and Houston offices, has been named Senior Director for Diversity and Inclusion. In her new role, Walker will focus exclusively on diversity and inclusion issues. She will work closely with Stacie Yee, a partner in Los Angeles who was named this summer as executive partner of the firm’s diversity and inclusion committee.

“This year the firm has really invigorated its commitment to diversity and is kind of taking it to the next level. It’s not just diversity of attorneys…but expanding that diversity inclusion for staff at all levels of the firm,” Yee told Texas Lawyer.

Walker will focus on promoting diversity and the inclusion of women, minorities and LGBTQ individuals throughout the firm, including among staff. For Walker, the responsibilities are not entirely new. For the past four years, she has held firmwide responsibility for diversity and inclusion in addition to her administrative role.

“This new role is only focused on the diversity and inclusion efforts of the firm. It’s 100 percent,” Walker said.

Walker will be responsible for helping the firm recruit, retain and advance diverse attorneys and employees. On her recent tour throughout the firm’s offices, she discussed efforts to create more employee resource groups, such as a new group for LGBTQ attorneys and staff and one for veterans that will soon launch.

Meanwhile, Yee has started a Twitter feed, @biglawdiversity, to promote diversity and inclusion in the legal field and share resources, news and successes with other firms.