Longtime public servant Beth White to lead Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking

An attorney with more than 30 years of experience, Beth White is deeply committed to public safety, advocacy for children, and civic engagement. She comes to ICESAHT from the Greater Indianapolis Progress Committee, where she has served as executive director since early 2016. A responsibility of this role included convening the Race and Cultural Relations Leadership Network, a GIPC initiative that fosters better relations and meaningful dialogue among diverse populations in the community.

She is best known for her two terms as the elected Marion County Clerk, serving as the chief election officer for the nation’s 12^th largest city, as well as the chief fiscal agent and record keeper for Indiana’s largest county court system. White presided over 14 elections, including the 2008 general election that saw an unprecedented voter turnout. She also focused on outreach initiatives, creating yVote!, an award-winning voter education program for high school students, and expanded voting access through registrations and early voting.

White also has significant experience as a leader, advocate, and policy advisor in Indiana. She held a number of leadership positions in the administration of Mayor Bart Peterson, and was chief legal counsel for the Indiana Department of Workforce Development. She launched her career with Barnes and Thornburg, transitioning to public service when the opportunity arose to serve as a deputy prosecutor in the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office. White was also a member of the Marion County Criminal Justice Planning Council, and the boards of the Julian Center and the Indianapolis Public Schools Foundation.

“We are thrilled a leader of Beth’s caliber will be leading ICESAHT into the future,” said ICESAHT Board President Greg Zoeller. “Her energy, tenacity, and compassion will ensure the voices of survivors are heard, particularly in these challenging times. On behalf of the board, we look forward to working with her.”

Sexual assault and human trafficking continue to plague Hoosiers. In Indiana, one in five women has been sexually assaulted. Indiana ranks fourth in the nation for reported rapes among high school girls, and sixth for high school boys. And, it was in Indianapolis, where Olympic gymnasts reported the sexual abuse perpetrated against them to the local FBI office, only to be dismissed.

“This crisis is real, and these recent events clearly demonstrate it is time to work even harder to prevent these kinds of crimes and to better support survivors,” said Beth White, incoming president, and CEO. “I firmly believe as we come out of this pandemic that we all must be advocates for a more just world, one that believes victims, empowers survivors and ensures that prevention and education are offered broadly. I’m looking forward to getting to work, and building on the firm foundation that has been established by the ICESAHT board, staff, and previous leadership.”

A native of Bloomington, White earned her undergraduate degree from Indiana University-Bloomington and her Juris Doctor with honors from the Georgetown University Law Center. She is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, an associate faculty member at IUPUI-O’Neill, and is an active member of Central Christian Church. White lives in the Irvington neighborhood of Indianapolis with her husband and son.