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 equality, 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. She resides in Gaithersburg, MD.

Stephon Scott

Branch Chief, Access & Equity

Stephon Scott has over 17 years of federal government service. Most recently, he 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 conducted EEO training for CMS 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.

Data Analytics & Customer Outreach Division

Shelma Middleton Little, Ph.D.

Director, Data Analytics and Customer Outreach

Dr. Little became the Director of the Division of Data Analytics and Customer Outreach on June 30, 2013. In this role she provides leadership for the production of data used to inform the NIH’s diversity and inclusion strategies; customer outreach to the NIH institutes, centers, and offices; and EDI employee development.

Shelma's previously served as EDI’s Branch Chief for Analysis, Planning, Evaluation, and Reports. In this role she was responsible for leading the NIH’s Management Directive 715 initiatives; providing oversight for evaluation of all EEO events and training; and developing Affirmative Employment Reports.

Dr. Little has over twelve years of equity, diversity, and inclusion experience serving as a program analyst and supervisory EEO specialist. During her career, she has coordinated a student training program designed to increase the pipeline of racial and ethnic minority students pursuing research careers; developed tools to evaluate EEO sponsored programs and trainings; piloted and implemented a process for collecting demographic information from tenured and tenure track scientists to evaluate the diversity of NIH’s applicant pool and outreach efforts; and led the resurvey of the NIH workforce resulting in an update to the disability status of employees.

In addition, Dr. Little has also served as an adjunct instructor for the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute as well as an HHS loaned executive for the Combined Campaign Fund. She is a graduate of the NIH Management Internship Program.

Prior to entering the EEO arena, Dr. Little worked as a clinical social worker at the NIH Clinical Center. In this capacity, she provided a wide range of treatment and consulting services for participants in clinical trials and their families. Dr. Little received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the College of Charleston, and an MSW and Ph.D. from Howard University.

Zam Haque

Branch Chief, Data Analytics

Zamiul Haque brings over ten years of experience to EDI in the “human side of innovation” stemming from federal, academic, and private sectors. His current focus is on developing cutting edge processes and producing the corresponding reports on NIH diversity and inclusion demographics for various audiences.

Zam’s work at the NIH includes: development of workflows and systems, developing and implementing employee outreach strategies, supporting diversity initiatives, and analyzing workforce trends. Prior to his work with the NIH, he consulted with an emerging agency at the Department of Defense on workforce trends analysis, employee outreach, and workforce competency development.

Additionally, Zam brings his experiences in managing the business processes for Magellan’s Health Systems’ employee performance management application, as well as his marketing analysis and outreach background as the Director of MBA/MS Admissions at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (Troy, NY campus).

Mr. Haque received his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from State University of NY at Albany and his MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lally School of Management and Technology. He is a current member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Jacqueline “Jackie” Dobson

Branch Chief, Customer Outreach & Employee Engagement

Jacqueline Dobson currently serves as Chief of the COED Branch. In this role she leads customer outreach services to NIH. Ms. Dobson has over 19 years of equity, diversity, and inclusion experience serving as a program analyst and EEO Specialist. She has also served asthe Acting EEO Officer for the National Institute on Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Ms. Dobson was responsible for leading the NIH’s inaugural Management Directive 715 Initiative, and provided oversight for the evaluation of NIH Affirmative Employment Reports. In addition she has lead targeted outreach and recruitment initiatives designed to increase the pipeline of racial and ethnic minority students pursuing research careers. Ms. Dobson received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology/Human Development from Howard University, and has completed the Executive Potential Program for Senior Level Employees at the USDA Graduate School.

Diversity & Inclusion Division

Danny Dickerson

Director, Diversity and Inclusion

Mr. Danny Dickerson serves as the Director, Diversity and Inclusion Division, for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. He is primarily responsible for overseeing the development of the Reasonable Accommodation Program, and the timely processing of Reasonable Accommodation Requests at NIH. In addition, he conducts training in the areas of Equal Employment Opportunity Compliance and Anti-Bullying.

Previously, Mr. Dickerson was a Senior Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist (EEO) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In this role, he acted as an advisor to EEO specialists and senior managers throughout HHS’ eleven Operating Divisions where he monitored and promoted the HHS Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Program. His primary responsibility was the rendering of Final Agency Decisions (FADs) based on the merits of individual complaints on behalf of the Secretary of Health and Human Services. He also worked as a case manager for high-level Conflict of Interest EEO complaints to include: assignment of EEO Counselors and investigators and issuance of acceptance/dismissal decisions for formal EEO complaints. Mr. Dickerson also developed, conducted, and monitored conflict resolution training programs.

Mr. Dickerson became involved in ADR in the mid-1990s while stationed at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska. He was assigned the task of developing and implementing a landlord-tenant program which would serve to resolve the unique issues military members face when dealing with civilian landlords.

While serving as the Senior Paralegal at the National Guard Bureau (NGB) Headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, he orchestrated the NGB’s first ever Mediation Certification Workshop, resulting in Certified Mediator certifications for forty-two National Guard civilian and military members. He was one of only two certified mediators assigned to the Office of the Chief Counsel. In addition to his work with the NGB, Mr. Dickerson also mediated Fairfax, Virginia Court System civilian cases.

Mr. Dickerson retired with twenty years of experience from the United States Air Force. He is married to his high school sweetheart and is 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.