Jacinta S. Ma Appointed Director of EEOC’s Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) today announced the appointment of Jacinta S. Ma as director of the Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs (OCLA).

For Ma this is a return to the EEOC.  From 2004 to 2011, Ma served as a senior advisor to Commissioner and Acting Chair Stuart J. Ishimaru, where she advised the Commissioner on recommendations for filing litigation, amicus briefs, and appellate decisions in federal employment discrimination cases, and proposed regulations and policy guidance.  She also collaborated on developing and implementing a Commission-wide initiative on race and coordinated and oversaw the drafting of agency plan for the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.  In addition, Ma served for nine months as a senior policy advisor in the Office of First Lady Michelle Obama.

Most recently, Ma was Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at the National Immigration Forum where she helped develop significant organizational goals, strategy, and policy priorities.  She worked closely with Congress and external stakeholders and collaborated on field and communications strategies.  

“Jacinta Ma brings over 20 years of knowledge of strategic public advocacy, as well as valuable experience in civil rights and at EEOC,” said EEOC Chair Charlotte A Burrows. “I am pleased that she is returning to the Commission.”

Ma said, “I am grateful for the opportunity to return to the EEOC under the Biden-Harris Administration as the Director of the Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs and eager to work with Chair Burrows, Vice Chair Samuels, the Commissioners, and the staff of the EEOC.  At this critical moment in our nation’s history, it is an honor to be able to contribute to the EEOC’s mission of eliminating barriers to employment opportunities for workers across our country.”

Ma earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law.

The EEOC advances equal opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available on EEOC’s website at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.