Pierre previously held the same position from 2015 to 2018 working for former Chair Yang and Acting Chair Lipnic

Cynthia Gilliam Pierre has been named by Charlotte A. Burrows, Chair of the EEOC, to be the agency’s chief operating officer. Her principal duties include managing all aspects of the Commission’s day-to-day operations.  

Overall, Pierre has worked for the EEOC for over 26 years where she started her career in 1982 in the Houston District Office as a program analyst. She moved on to become the Director of the Birmingham District Office and Director of Field Management Programs. She also served in this same role as Chief Operating Officer from 2015 to 2018 for former Chair Jenny R. Yang and Acting Chair Victoria A. Lipnic.

In addition to her EEOC experience, Pierre worked at the Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights as a Regional Director in Atlanta and as an enforcement Director. She currently teaches graduate classes in intercultural communications and leadership at the University of Maryland’s Transformational Leadership master’s program and leading diverse and inclusive organizations at George Washington University.

Pierre holds a B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania; a M.A. from Antioch University; and a Ph.D. in public administration from the George Washington University. Additionally, she completed the Senior Managers in Government program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

“Cynthia has a proven track record of success and a wealth of institutional knowledge about the EEOC,” said Chair Burrows. “Her background and leadership will be invaluable as we position the agency to be as effective as possible both now and far into the future.”