Continuing our promise of diversity

Today is my first day as the Director of the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion at the CFPB. I am excited to be here and I thought this was the perfect opportunity to introduce myself and the work of my office to you.

I’m coming to the CFPB after serving nine years at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (Commission). There I worked to protect the public from unlawful discrimination and harassment in all work situations, such as hiring, firing, promotions, training, wages, and benefits. In 2009, I was appointed the Acting Chairman of the Commission. In that role I helped the Commission recover over $370 million dollars in relief for victims of discrimination in the workplace. I was the first Administration official to testify before Congress in support of the proposed Employment Nondiscrimination Act, which would prohibit employment discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. I also led the Commission to adopt new guidance that helps employers avoid gender and disability discrimination against workers who have caregiving responsibilities to their families.

Earlier in my career, I was appointed the Acting Staff Director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and I served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the Department of Justice in its Civil Rights Division.

Some people fall into their line of work and others know exactly what they want early on. I think I’m a bit of both. Years ago I saw an opportunity to do great work for Americans who are often underrepresented and underserved. It has been my passion to work to ensure that those people have a voice and fair access to opportunities. I believe that equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion are what make this country thrive – they are what make us great.

I came to the CFPB because I know this is a place that shares those same values. Here we have a team that understands that to help all consumers we need to have a wide range of perspectives in-house. Our Office of Minority and Women Inclusion will work to ensure that diversity and inclusion are more than just considerations; they are defining standards for the work we do.

The CFPB’s Office of Minority and Women Inclusion will ensure that the CFPB fulfills its commitment to diversity by:

• Developing and implementing standards of equal employment;
• Developing standards for assessing the diversity policies and practices of
  CFPB-regulated entities;
• Advising on the impact of Bureau policies and regulations on minority and women-owned businesses; and
• Coordinating with the Director to create and implement solutions to civil rights violations.

The CFPB has done a lot since July 2011 and as we near our one-year anniversary there is still much to be done. The Office of Minority and Women Inclusion is here to ensure that as we move forward, diversity and inclusion will continue to be essential guideposts for the CFPB and its work.