The Team | Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

Immediate Office of the Director

Debra C. Chew, Esq.

Director

Debra has over 16 years of EEO, diversity, and civil rights experience in the public and private sectors. She joined the National Institutes of Health as the Director of EDI (formerly the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Management) in July of 2012. Prior to her appointment, Debra worked for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) starting in 2009 as the Executive Director of the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion serving as the Chief Diversity Officer and Chief Civil Rights Officer. Due to her groundbreaking accomplishments, she was selected as the IRS Human Capital Officer in 2011 where she led 1,600 Human Capital professionals in supporting IRS workforce (over 100,000 geographically dispersed employees) and IRS stakeholders through progressive human capital services and solutions.

Prior to her appointment to the IRS, Debra served as the Acting Chief Diversity Officer for the Food & Drug Administration and prior to that the Director of the EEO complaint and reasonable accommodation programs. Due to her accomplishments, she was recognized by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Michael Levitt for her significant achievement in improving the quality and efficiency of EEO complaint processing throughout HHS and was awarded the HHS Award for Excellence in Management in January 2009, the highest award for leadership at the Department.

Debra is a licensed attorney who practiced in the areas of employment discrimination and medical malpractice defense both for governmental and private entities. She was a senior attorney in the HHS Office of the General Counsel where she litigated employment related disputes for all HHS Operating Divisions. A graduate of the University of Virginia, in Charlottesville, Virginia with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, she subsequently attended the American University, Washington College of Law where she earned her Juris Doctorate. She is licensed to practice law in the state of Georgia.

A native of Washington D.C., Debra currently resides in Rockville, Maryland with her husband and two sons.

Treava S. Hopkins-Laboy

Deputy Director

Born and raised in the Washington Metro Area, Treava Hopkins-Laboy has over 20 years of experience with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Prior to joining the National Institutes of Health as the Deputy Director of the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Treava served as the Director of EEO Compliance for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where she was responsible for the direct supervision of the Complaints Processing Staff and the Reasonable Accommodation Team. Treava also served as the Acting Director of the Conflict Prevention and Resolution Staff, overseeing all aspects of alternative dispute resolution and proactive apparatuses for conflict intervention.

Treava started her career with HHS in the FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs as an Education Specialist for the Education and Training Division. In this role, she was responsible for providing training for Field Investigators and Laboratory Personnel. She later transitioned to the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) as a Workforce Diversity Specialist, where she oversaw student intern outreach programs, graduate student intern research programs, special emphasis programs, and workforce analysis. During this time, Treava also served on the HHS Recruitment Council and the HHS Disability Council, and is credited with the development and implementation of the CVM Recruitment and Retention team.Treava received her Associate of Arts Degree from Montgomery College, her Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies/Health Promotions from American University, and her Master of Science in Management Studies/Human Resources from the University of Maryland, University College. In addition, she received her EEO Studies Certification from Cornell University and Mediation Certifications from the Atlanta Justice Center.

Outside of her work and academic studies, Treava is a certified scuba diver, music DJ, aerobics instructor, and first responder. In her spare time she enjoys playing the drums, reading books, and traveling with her husband.

Resolutions & Equity Division

Kimberly Kirkpatrick

Director, Resolutions and Equity

Kimberly Kirkpatrick is the Director, Resolutions and Equity Division.

Since her arrival in March 2011, she has invigorated internal and external partnerships that support and provide reasonable accommodations to the disability community. Prior to joining NIH, Kimberly served as the Senior Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist at the Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to monitoring EEO complaints and processing reasonable accommodations, she executed the Management Directive 715 for the Office of the Director and the Administration for Children and Families.

An alumnus of the University of Maryland, University College, Kimberly started her federal career in 1992 at the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). Since then, she has served as an EEO Counselor and Investigative Contracts Manager, and Co-Chaired a highly successful Special Emphasis Program. She has over 20 years of government service, including 15 years in the PBGC, Office of the General Counsel, Appeals Division. There, she was influential in implementing the use of the Workforce Recruitment Program for Students with Disabilities and directed the Organization’s first Job Shadowing Day and Diversity Day Observance. She also served as the Disability Program Manager and the Federal Women’s Program Manager. Kimberly is known for her ability to quickly assess issues, her strength in creative resolutions, and her forte in adapting to challenges.

Eric Hebron

Branch Chief, Informal Complaints

Eric joined EDI as the Branch Chief for the Informal Complaints Branch in March 2014. He brings a variety of talents to this position with a keen eye towards alternative dispute resolution (ADR). In 1999, Eric was offered a job as the Internal Ombudsman for the Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority providing confidential resolution of internal disputes between employees and management. He also provided training to managers and employees on various topics ranging from Conflict Coaching, 360-degree feedback surveys, and Interpersonal Skill Development.

In 2008, Eric was offered a position at the U.S. Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) as an ADR specialist. At PFPA, he served as an EEO liaison to the Director, the EAP Coordinator, and an employee relations specialist. In 2010, Eric began working at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a Conflict Prevention and Resolution Specialist. Certified as an EEO Counselor, he has extensive experience with EEO informal complaints and has tirelessly worked to resolve complaints of discrimination before they become formal complaints.

Born in Annapolis, Maryland, Eric earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology at Morgan State University in 1988. Interested in continuing his education in the field of Counseling, he enrolled at the University of Maryland, School of Social Work specializing in Employee Assistance Program Counseling (EAP). Eric obtained a Master of Social Work in 1992, and has also received certifications in Organizational Development from Georgetown University and the American Society for Training and Development (ASTD). In 2007, Eric also obtained a 40-hour certification in Mediation from the Center for Conflict Resolution.

Kenrick Small

Acting Branch Chief, Formal Complaints

Kenrick worked at the Food and Drug Administration since 2014 as a Formal Complaints Specialists and served as the Acting Director for Compliance and the Team Lead of the Compliance Team. He directed the coordination of assignments for all duties of the Compliance team including the preparation of accept/dismissal letters, issuance of reports of investigation, and transmittal of EEO complaint files, the processing of and the coordination of all appeals and remanded cases. From 2009-2013 Kenrick worked at the Department of Health and Human Services, as a Senior EEO Specialist. There he perform the full range of EEO services including, but not limited to complaint processing and adjudication functions, administering diversity management initiatives and administering affirmative employment and special emphasis programs. Kenrick’s EEO experience continues back to include Civil Rights Specialist, Attorney at Law, Probation Officer, Correctional Counselor, etc.

Kenrick earned his J.D., at Western New England College School of Law, Springfield, MA, and his Bachelors in Sociology at Springfield College in Springfield MA.

Guidance, Education, & Marketing Division

Kendrick T. Gibbs

Director, Guidance, Education, and Marketing

Kendrick is the Director of the Guidance, Education, and Marketing Division. In this role, he is responsible for providing managers and employees the tools necessary to guide them through the complexities of EEO. He is also responsible for ensuring the mandatory EEO training requirements are met for the NIH as well as the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). He works diligently to ensure the communication of the EDI mission and vision is conveyed to all NIH and AHRQ employees.

Mr. Gibbs began his government career with HHS in 1999 as a secretary with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). While at the FDA, Kendrick also served as an administrative officer, an employee resource specialist, an information technology specialist, an investigations program manager, and an equal employment specialist. Mr. Gibbs also served as the Director of Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Secretary and was responsible for developing, implementing, evaluating, and directing a comprehensive program in accordance with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, 29 CFR 1614, and other applicable laws, regulations, policies, Executive Orders, and White House initiatives related to EEO. He has also served as the Director of the HHS, Office of Human Resources (OHR), Rockville Field Office.

Prior to joining the NIH in 2012, Mr. Gibbs was the Director of the HHS, OHR, Diversity Opportunities, Outreach, and Recruitment Division where he ensured enhancements to the HHS compositional diversity profile and inclusion of all populations within the workforce. He helped to develop, direct, and evaluate an enterprise-wide effort that achieved the goals for diversity identified in the Departmental Strategic Plan and Departmental Diversity and Inclusion

Plan. Mr. Gibbs also provided policy guidance, program direction, and staff leadership in the area of workforce analysis, barrier analysis, outreach, retention, and training for HHS. A strong advocate for employee development and mentoring, Mr. Gibbs continues to coach and mentor employees as well as youth through his affiliation with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. in his spare time.

Originally from Hyattsville, Maryland, he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Operations from South Carolina State University with a dual concentration in Marketing and Management.

Jordene Chabuk

Branch Chief, Training, Marketing, and Communications

Jordene is Chief of the Training, Marketing, and Communications Branch. In this role, she leads EEO and EDI training services and marketing to all NIH employees. Her team is committed to an NIH-wide shared understanding, commitment, and adherence to equity, diversity and inclusion. Her team develops engaging training and marketing services and solutions to increase knowledge about EEO and EDI and to ensure employees know how to access available resources.

Jordene began her government career as an employee of the Department of Interior (DOI) and then for the US Department of Defense (DOD), developing educational materials for both agencies. She also served 16 years with Xerox to support the US Department of Education (ED), developing and delivering educational, public awareness, and targeted marketing materials for diverse audiences. She managed public-facing websites to educate, train, and increase awareness of the department’s higher-education programs. Before coming to the NIH, Jordene worked for the US General Services Administration (GSA), where she was responsible for marketing, outreach, communications, and training. She created an interactive Knowledge Repository as a productivity tool for the agency. She also designed and developed a data system with dynamic real-time visualization and an Executive Dashboard that allows GSA to measure and evaluate marketing and outreach effectiveness.

In addition, Jordene has extensive marketing and communications experience in industry, including her work at two national publishing companies -- Ziff-Davis Publishing Company and Aspen Publishers. Jordene has evaluated US laws, regulations and policy over the years to share and distill clear, easily understood information needed by diverse target audiences. She develops and manages strategic plans and is committed to team success.

Originally born in Washington, DC, Jordene has lived in Maryland all her life. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and Journalism from the University of Maryland in College Park, MD.

Stephon Scott

Branch Chief, Access & Equity

Stephon Scott has over 19 years of federal government service (military & civilian). He currently serves as Branch Chief of EDI’s Access & Equity Branch. There, he leads the EDI Accessibility Consultancy at NIH, whose portfolio of services include Language Access, Reasonable Accommodation, and EEO Guidance. He has served as the Team Leader and Subject Matter Expert for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Reasonable Accommodation Program (RAP), Office of Equal Opportunity & Civil Rights (OEOCR). While at CMS, Mr. Scott redesigned and rebranded OEOCR/RAP. As a part of his work, he led a team of diverse professionals (reasonable accommodation coordinators, sign language interpreters, personal assistants, and program analysts). He has conducted EEO and RA training for Senior Executives and new managers, analyzed and resolved hundreds of complex reasonable accommodation requests, and provided technical assistance to the OEOCR Civil Rights Team regarding (Title VI) language access provisions.

Prior to CMS, Mr. Scott served the State of New Mexico, the University of New Mexico, and Albuquerque Public Schools as an educator, community outreach coordinator, project coordinator, diversity trainer, language access facilitator and collaborator, and higher education academic advisor.

As a law student, Mr. Scott served as a legal intern with the Office of General Counsel, Office of the Governor, Chief Counsel, State of New Mexico. He also worked as a law clerk with The Pueblo of Laguna Tribal Courts, Office of the Prosecutor and with the Bernalillo County Attorney’s Office, Bernalillo County, New Mexico. Mr. Scott’s professional paper, entitled “WHITES ONLY” Racially Restrictive Real Estate Covenants: Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1940-1948, earned him the Ferrel Heady Award for Most Outstanding Professional Paper, 2007-2008.

Mr. Scott’s watch-phrase is “where there is will and opportunity, advancement is sure to follow!”

Mr. Scott is also United States Army combat veteran. He is married to his “North Star” and is the father of three children and three step children, all of whom are blessings.

Diversity & Inclusion Division

Danny Dickerson

Director, Diversity and Inclusion

Mr. Danny Dickerson is the Director, Division of Inclusion and Diversity, for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He is primarily responsible for overseeing the administration of the Affirmative Employment Programs and managing a robust Diversity and Inclusion Portfolio. Mr. Dickerson has also served as the EDI Senior Policy Advisor, as well as a Reasonable Accommodations consultant.

Mr. Dickerson is also a member of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) training cadre, where he is responsible for conducting training in the areas of Anti-Bullying, Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance, Civil Treatment, and LGBTI training (Safezone).

Previously Mr. Dickerson was a Senior Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist (EEO) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Mr. Dickerson retired from the United States Air Force after twenty years of service. He is married to his high school sweetheart and the father of two wonderful children.

Jennifer Gioffre

Branch Chief, Strategic Diversity and Inclusion

Jennifer’s first experiences with diversity and inclusion are quite different from most other people. Raised in a signing household with American Sign Language as her first language, she grew up immersed in Deaf culture. Because the number of people in the Deaf community is relatively small, she and her family actively reach out to include everyone who is Deaf – driven by the commitment to not leave anyone out.
From an early age, Jennifer attended gatherings including people of all races and with all kinds of disabilities. Growing up, she became a proud member and advocate of the disability community, and developed a strong personal commitment to actively reaching out to all people – those with disabilities, of different races, or anyone generally considered to be different.

This personal passion directly parallels Jennifer’s professional career. She started her federal career 18 years ago at the Food and Drug Administration in Rockville, MD, where she held several positions including Staff Sign Language Interpreter, Civil Rights Specialist, Diversity Trainer, and Section 508 Coordinator. Later, Jennifer became the Departmental Disability Policy Advisor for the Department of Commerce, working in downtown Washington D.C. After three years at the headquarters level, she accepted a transfer opportunity to work at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Silver Spring, Maryland, in a more hands-on role as a Disability Program Manager. In order to learn more about the recruitment of people with disabilities, Jennifer joined the Human Resources side of the house, as a recruiter for Schedule A applicants and disabled veterans. In 2013, Jennifer joined the EDI Team as the Branch Chief for the Strategic Diversity and Inclusion team.

As a federal career employee, Jennifer has a long-standing commitment to be a change agent for inclusion and is dedicated to furthering NIH’s efforts in this arena. Her strengths include problem-solving, consensus-building, and throwing parties to bring people together!

Renee King

Branch Chief, Special Emphasis Programs

Ms. King holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and has years of federal service. Over her 20-year career, she has served in various roles in the area of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Management. She has received training in the fields of Counseling, Investigation, Acceptance/Dismissals and Mediation from both the Small Business Administration and Department of Veterans Affairs.

In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, decorating and spending time with her family and friends. Ms. King’s passion is event planning – parties, showers, and anniversaries. Her future plans include opening her own facility that specializes in kid entertainment and birthday parties.