Regina Stephens Named EEOC’s New Chief Administrative Judge

WASHINGTON -- Regina Stephens has been named to the newly created senior executive position of chief administrative judge in the Office of Field Programs, the U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today.

The chief administrative judge position was created to ensure focused senior level attention at the headquarters level for the agency’s National Hearings Program in support of the administration’s whole-of-government approach to equity and civil rights. The National Hearings Program provides administrative hearing services for federal employees’ equal employment opportunity complaints under Section 717 of Title VII, Section 15 of the ADEA and Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, when requested after investigations by federal departments or agencies.  As chief administrative judge, Stephens will guide the program to accomplish its mission innovatively and equitably, with a particular emphasis on planning and policy development and determining program priorities and quality assurance.

“As the nation’s largest employer, the federal government provides the federal community with an independent administrative process to address workplace violations of the laws enforced by EEOC,” said Stephens. “I am excited to lead the EEOC’s federal sector administrative hearings program and to address these claims in a fair, effective, and efficient forum.”

“Ms. Stephens’ work at the EEOC in federal sector programs has provided her with a wealth of experience and an in-depth knowledge needed to lead this important function,” said EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows.  “Having her share her expertise and commitment in this important new role will be invaluable as we shape the future of the federal equal employment opportunity hearings process and to better serve workers throughout the federal government.”

Stephens, a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina Central University School of Law, began her career with the EEOC as an appellate attorney in Washington, D.C., where she worked in the Office of Review and Appeals, now the Office of Federal Operations. After several years in Washington, D.C., she returned to the Charlotte District Office as an administrative judge and was later promoted to supervisory administrative judge where she managed the federal sector hearings program for Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Before her selection, she was a member of the Office of Field Programs senior staff where she served as a National Hearings Program manager.

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