Swearing In for Office of Minority Affairs

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley delivers the oath of office to Nichelle Nix as the Director of the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs (GOMA) after a ceremonial bill signing for HB 534, at the State Capitol in Montgomery on Tuesday, May 24, 2016. HB 534 codifies the Director of the Office of Minority Affairs as a cabinet level position. Her husband Leroy Nix holds the Bible. Alabama is one of only two states with an Office of Minority Affairs as a cabinet level position. Sen. Rodger Smitherman and state Rep. John Knight sponsored the bill in the Alabama Legislature. The office was established to advise the Governor on issues affecting minorities, including women in areas of education, health, economics, political participation, housing, employment and civil rights.