Top Oregon official put on leave for allegedly prioritizing 'qualified' job candidates over 'gender identity'

A diversity, equity and inclusion expert had her former boss placed on administrative leave for reportedly prioritizing merit over personal identity when hiring new employees, according to a report.Megan Donecker, who formerly served as the Oregon Department of Forestry’s DEI strategy officer, complained about the agency’s management, criticizing her boss Mike Shaw for looking “beyond gender and identity in hiring, seeking only candidates most qualified for the job,” OregonLive reported.Shaw served as the agency’s second-in-command under State Forester Cal Mukumoto until he was placed on administrative leave on Aug. 6 after Donecker filed a formal complaint against him, the Daily Mail reported. Views of Mt. Hood National Forest, a mountain and river wilderness area located only an hour and half drive from the city of Portland, as seen on September 29, 2020, Oregon. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images) ((Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty…