Nikeshia Fomby Appointed to Lead Public Engagement for Bloomington, Expanding Resident Voice in City Government

The City of Bloomington has appointed Nikeshia Fomby, MBA, as its new Public Engagement Director, effective today. Fomby brings over two decades of experience in community development, workforce strategy, and public service—positioning her to lead meaningful efforts that will connect residents to their local government and expand engagement citywide.

As Public Engagement Director, Fomby will spearhead initiatives that promote transparency, foster collaboration, and elevate resident voices in city decision-making. Her leadership will focus on building sustainable relationships between the City and the community—ensuring that programs, services, and resources are accessible, inclusive, and responsive to diverse needs.

“Co-creating with the community means recognizing that every voice matters—not just during moments of celebration or crisis, but in the everyday work of building a city that reflects the people who call it home,” says Mayor Kerry Thomson. “Nikeshia’s leadership will ensure that residents are not just heard, but meaningfully involved in shaping what comes next. Her extensive background in community-building, advocacy, and workforce development makes her the ideal person to deepen the City’s commitment to collaboration, equity, and meaningful public participation. I’m confident she will help us create stronger, more inclusive pathways for engagement that empower residents to co-author Bloomington’s future.”

Fomby most recently served as Associate Director for Metropolitan Indianapolis Central Indiana Area Health Education Center (MICI-AHEC) at the University of Indianapolis, where she managed pipeline skills programming across eight counties in the Indianapolis metropolitan region. Prior to that, she was the Community Development Manager for the Summit City Entrepreneur and Enterprise District (SEED) in Fort Wayne, where she partnered with stakeholders to promote business growth, investment incentives, and job retention and expansion.

Her experience includes roles with the Indiana Family Social Services Administration, Fort Wayne Housing Authority, and Parkview Regional Medical Center. Fomby is also the founder of Blue Rose Agency LLC, a consulting firm that empowers entrepreneurs and supports small business growth.

Fomby holds an MBA from Western Governors University and a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Grand Canyon University. She is pursuing a Master of Science in Human Resource Management and is an alumna of Ball State University’s Indiana Economic and Community Development courses.

Fomby has served on numerous boards and committees including the Fort Wayne Black Chamber of Commerce, Amani Family Services, and the National Black MBA Association. She currently serves as a board member for the Susan G Komen Foundation. She was part of Greater Fort Wayne’s Leadership Fort Wayne class of 2024 and the inaugural Executive Fellowship for MakeStartups in 2023.

Community members will soon have the opportunity to connect with Fomby through upcoming public forums, neighborhood roundtables, and engagement events that will be announced in the coming weeks.