Era L. Marshall has been the director of Office of Equal Employment and Minority Affairs at the Smithsonian Institution since September 1992. She has more than 30 years of hands-on experience in the development and implementation of equal employment opportunity policies, plans and programs.

During her tenure at the Smithsonian, Marshall, she has established and chaired the Smithsonian EEO/Diversity Council and the Secretary’s EEO Diversity Awards Program. She also created and directs the Smithsonian Supplier Diversity Program, the Secretary’s Networking Reception for Interns and the Smithsonian Alternative Dispute Resolution Process, an integral part of the EEO and other complaint processes.

Prior to joining the Smithsonian, she was the senior manager in charge of the Women’s Program at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission from 1984 to 1992, where she was responsible for the agency-wide program for the advancement and utilization of women and minorities.

A trained sociologist skilled in conflict resolution, Marshall served as staff sociologist in Office of the Department of Chief of Staff for Personnel at the Department of the Army from 1972 to 1980. During her 12 years of employment at the Department of Army, Marshall worked as a principal analyst to the Quality of Life for Military Personnel study effort and to the development of the Army’s General Performance Appraisal System for civilian personnel. She also managed the Race Relations Research Program, overseeing the development and implementation of research studies and reports that were used in the development of programs, activities and race relations training at The U.S. Army Defense Race Relations Institute in Florida.

Marshall, who began her professional career as a high school teacher of human relations and sociology, also was the National Federal Women’s Program manager in the Department of Transportation at the Federal Aviation Administration.

Marshall holds certifications in the conflict resolution process, workplace conflict resolution and federal workplace mediation. Organizational affiliations include memberships on the Small Business Administration Procurement Advisory Committee, Federal Interagency Small and Disadvantage Business Council and Executive Women in Government Organization.

Marshall graduated from Bradley University in Peoria, Ill., where she earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1968. She earned a master’s degree in human relations and education from Oklahoma University in Norman, Okla., in 1972. Marshall graduated from the Federal Executive Institute in Charlottesville, Va., where she studied leadership for a democratic society and received her certifications in conflict and dispute resolution from the Institute for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va.

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