Crystal Cooke, Director - Diversity & Inclusion, joined the Association in February 2020 and oversees the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant's member facing Diversity and Inclusion team who focuses their efforts on increasing representation of underrepresented populations (e.g. ethnic minorities, women, LGBTQ) in the accounting profession. She serves as one of the leads of the AICPA's National Commission on Diversity & Inclusion, whose mission includes making diversity and inclusion a priority in the areas of recruitment, certification, and advancement of ethnic minorities. Her work requires collaboration with senior executives of partner organizations and accounting firms who also seek to increase diversity in their workforces. Prior to the Association, Crystal spent 12 years at the Center for Audit Quality where she managed Governing Board operations, financial reporting and budgeting processes, and talent, which included leading efforts around Diversity and Inclusion. She was also employed at KPMG LLP for 7 years as an auditor in their assurance practice in Washington D.C. Crystal holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Cincinnati. She and her family reside in Bowie, MD.