The Columbus Human Rights Commission Staff & Commissioners
The Human Rights Department has a total of three (3) staff members with an office located on the first floor of City Hall. We welcome the opportunity to speak to you or your organization about community education, outreach, or individual technical assistance.
Panelists from the 2019 Human Rights Commission Annual Dinner
Aida Ramirez is a Northwest Indiana native who joined the Commission in 2013 as Deputy Director before being promoted to Director the following year. Aida received her Doctor of Jurisprudence from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law in Indianapolis and obtained undergraduate and graduate degrees at Purdue University in West Lafayette.
Prior to moving to Columbus and joining the Commission, Aida worked with the Marion County Circuit Court to increase access to justice in the Marion County Small Claims Courts by implementing the 2012 Indiana Court of Appeals Task Force Recommendations. Specific objectives were increasing access to justice for Limited-English Proficient persons and those with physical and hearing impairments, decreasing barriers to participation in the pro se litigant process by providing draft uniform court forms and a litigant manual explaining the process and making it available to the public online, and providing technical assistance and guidance in drafting local Marion County Small Claims Rules aimed at achieving these objectives and increasing transparency in the courts.
Department Staff – Organizational Chart (PDF)
Aida Ramírez, J.D.
Human Rights Director
E-mail: aramirez@columbus.in.gov
Phone: 812.376.2532
Erica Schmidt, MPA
Human Rights Deputy Director
E-mail: eschmidt@columbus.in.gov
Phone: 812.376.2532
Human Rights Commission
| Name | Term | Expires | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joy Basa-King* | 3 Years | 3/31/26 | City Council |
| Mike Champlin** | 3 Years | 3/31/26 | City Council |
| Jasmine O'Conner | 3 years | 3/31/25 | City Council |
| Sondra Bolte | 3 Years | 3/31/25 | City Council |
| Tyler Davis | 3 years | 3/31/26 | City Council |
| Richard Gold | 3 Years | 3/31/25 | City Council |
| Gregory S. Lewis | 3 Years | 3/31/24 | City Council |
| Amanda Roggow | 3 years | 3/31/26 | City Council |
| Claudia Sanchez Davila | 3 Years | 3/31/24 | City Council |
| Matt Souza | 3 Years | 3/31/25 | City Council |
| VACANT | 3 Years | 3/31/24 | City Council |
**Vice-Chairperson of Commission
Department Attorney: Mary Stroh, Assistant City Attorney
City Council Liaison: Tim Shuffett
Location: The meetings are held in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
**In order to take necessary COVID-19 precautions and keep in compliance with Open Door Law (ODL) meetings are being held in the Council Chambers located in City Hall and virtually via WebEx with phone access until further notice. Members of the public who will participate electronically and wish to submit questions or comments can do so via e-mail to humanrights@columbus.in.gov.**
The monthly Human Rights Commission meetings are held on the last Wednesday of the month, with the exception of November and December due to the holidays.
2023/2024 Officers
Chairpersons -Joy Basa-King
Vice-Chairperson -Mike Champlin
Secretary – Jasmine O’Conner
Treasurer – Amanda Roggow
