The George Washington University recently announced that Gilberto Garcia Jr. is the university’s new director of equal employment opportunity in the Division of University Human Resources. Mr. Garcia brings to the position experience in labor and employment law and EEO compliance. He began his new position on Dec. 3.
Sabrina Ellis, vice president for university human resources, said Mr. Garcia’s skills will benefit her office’s mission.
“Mr. Garcia brings a unique blend of expertise and experience, which will be very valuable in advancing the university’s efforts to maintain a diverse and inclusive workforce and work environment,” she said.
Mr. Garcia’s functions at George Washington will include serving as a resource for university managers on issues of equal opportunity employment compliance; helping the university recognize opportunities to improve policies and procedures related to EEO; and working in partnership with both the Division of University Human Resources and the office of Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion Terri Harris Reed.
He said that while there are some bureaucratic similarities between working for the federal government and working at a large university like George Washington, GW offers certain intangible benefits.
“A higher education environment is welcoming. We’re working with students and employees and building a community here,” he said.
Mr. Garcia came to GW from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, where he spent five years as branch chief of enforcement and appeals, providing legal expertise on more than 4,000 EEO compliance evaluations annually. Prior to that position, he worked for eight years in the Department of Labor’s Office of the Solicitor as a trial attorney for the Division of Civil Rights and Labor Management. In that role, he defended principles of affirmative action and the prohibition of employment discrimination in court and administrative proceedings.
Mr. Garcia received his law degree from Syracuse University’s College of Law, and he remains a member of the bar of New York state. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American studies and government from the University of Texas at Austin. He also spent a semester at Oxford University in England, studying British history.