Guidance, Education, and Marketing Division

As the EDI communications director, Ms. Chakraborty leverages an extensive career that includes public relations, consumer marketing, brand management, and user experience in various industries. Ms. Chakraborty directs a multidisciplinary branch skilled in visual brand communications, web development, content strategy, writing, and editing. She leads a team that upholds and amplifies equal employment opportunity for the agency and its employees.

Previously, Ms. Chakraborty held brand strategy and user experience roles at Capital One Finance Corporation and Discover Card. She led creative direction and consumer value propositions for flagship credit card products and services through email and direct marketing campaigns. At Discover Card, she elevated the mobile app and web experience, contributing to multiple J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction awards.

During her tenure at AARP Services Inc., Ms. Chakraborty managed a marketing budget exceeding $35 million and led major print, display, search, and broadcast ad buys. She also designed AARP Services’ inaugural research and planning guide to help members navigate Medicare, leading to the development of AARP Services’ first Medicare shopping guide and timeline.

Ms. Chakraborty honed her professional expertise in corporate communications at Edelman Public Relations, where she consistently secured editorial board meetings for reputation management and crisis clients. Through compelling pitch development and relationship building, Ms. Chakraborty also won major earned media placements for her broader client base in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and major cable news programs.

Ms. Chakraborty seeks innovative ways to use language, both written and spoken, to foster a culture of belonging. She demonstrates oversight and direction of internal and external communications, enhances employer branding, and provides strategic guidance for EDI’s visual identity to advance workforce communication strategies for equal employment opportunity and diversity and equity initiatives.

Ms. Chakraborty holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications (public relations) from the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Master of Science in integrated marketing communications from Northwestern University.

Ms. Laventure provides supervisory oversight over the NIH Reasonable Accommodation Program by directing and instructing the processing of reasonable accommodation requests submitted by NIH visitors, employees, and applicants with disabilities and disabling medical conditions. Ms. Laventure leads and directs the education and engagement of the NIH community on applicable laws, executive orders, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance. She serves as a subject matter expert on broad, novel, difficult, and complex reasonable accommodation (RA); equal employment opportunity; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility matters.

Prior to serving as the branch director of the Access and Equity Branch, Ms. Laventure served as an RA consultant with the NIH Reasonable Accommodation Program. As an RA consultant, Ms. Laventure served as an RA subject matter expert, providing thoughtful and effective guidance and consultation to her internal and external customers, and adopting a “customer first” ethos. Ms. Laventure sees her colleagues and the NIH community as her customers and believes that placing the customer’s needs first helps her provide the best products, services, and communications.

Ms. Laventure’s skills include legal research, critical thinking, conflict resolution, data analysis, collaboration, and customer relationship management. Ms. Laventure is a seasoned presenter and trainer and thrives in both virtual and in-person settings.

Ms. Laventure holds a master’s in human resources from Georgetown University with a concentration in human capital and a Juris Doctorate from the University of the District of Columbia School of Law. Ms. Laventure is admitted to practice law in both Maryland and the District of Columbia.

In her role, Ms. Bradley provides Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) building surveys by reviewing buildings to make sure that they are accessible for individuals with disabilities. Ms. Bradley surveys all NIH locations to implement accessibility requirements pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 2010 Standards, ANSI A117.1, and others. In addition, Ms. Bradley supports the reasonable accommodation program by providing assistive technology recommendations for employees. Furthermore, Ms. Bradley works to ensure NIH complies with Executive Order 14035. Specifically, Ms. Bradley advances diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across NIH, developing a resource Assistive Technology Lab that includes the latest assistive technology equipment, which employees with disabilities can use at their workstations.

As an accessibility professional with more than 18 years of experience, Ms. Bradley has developed programs related to ergonomics, employee readiness, assistive technology, and mental health.

Prior to joining NIH, Ms. Bradley worked as a program manager at the U.S. Department of Agriculture Technology and Accessible Resources Give Employment Today (TARGET) Center, a federal disability resource center, where she specialized in ergonomics and assistive technology to support employees with disabilities in setting up reasonable accommodations. Ms. Bradley has developed several training courses and building evaluations used to make sure that individuals with disabilities have accommodations.

Ms. Bradley served as a psychiatric rehabilitation therapist for the Johns Hopkins Community Psychiatry Program, where she was responsible for rehabilitation assessments, facilitation of groups, and crisis intervention for patients.

Ms. Bradley is a licensed ergonomist from Oxford Research Institute and has evaluated many federal buildings to assess their compliance with the ADA and architectural building standards.

Her comprehensive skill set includes team collaboration; building design; program management; proficiency in ADA building regulations, codes, and standards; and accessibility guidelines.

Ms. Bradley holds a Bachelor of Science degree in rehabilitation science from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and is attending the master’s program in assistive technology at California State University, Northridge (expected degree in 2025). Ms. Bradley is also pursuing certification in Accessible Built Environments from the International Association of Accessibility Professionals.

In his role, Mr. Henderson serves as a reasonable accommodation (RA) subject matter expert for the NIH community. He provides accurate and effective guidance and consultation on all NIH RA matters. He processes requests for RA for NIH visitors, employees, and applicants with disabilities and disabling medical conditions. Mr. Henderson educates the NIH community on applicable laws, executive orders, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Commission guidance, and the NIH RA process and serves as an instructor for training courses on RA for managers/supervisors and employees. He engages the NIH community on broad, novel, difficult, and complex RA; EEO; and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) topics.

Prior to joining NIH, Mr. Henderson worked for the Department of the Navy (DON) Naval Sea Systems Command as the enterprise deputy director in the Office of EEO, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Washington, DC. There, he served as the principal technical advisor and consultant to the EEO director and subordinate commanding officers on all aspects of EEO and diversity programs. He also served as the enterprise disability program manager responsible for overseeing and enforcing the implementation of the DON RA program.

Mr. Henderson also worked for the Department of the Army (DOA) Installation Management Command (IMCOM) at U.S. Army Garrison Fort Detrick in Maryland, where he served in a variety of positions, including EEO officer, complaints manager, disability program manager, and anti-harassment program manager. Prior to that, he worked for the DOA, IMCOM, USA, Fort Leonard Wood, as an EEO specialist.

Mr. Henderson retired from the U.S. Army in 2014, following 24 years of honorable service. During his enlistment, he was inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Christopher, which recognizes those who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character; displayed an outstanding degree of professional competence; and served the Transportation Corps with selflessness. He also was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement in a combat zone.

Mr. Henderson is adept in developing and delivering EEO-related training and facilitating group discussions.

Mr. Henderson holds a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis in management and leadership from the Webster University George Herbert Walker School of Business and Technology in St. Louis, Missouri. He also holds certifications in diversity, equity, and inclusion from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business and Cornell University.

As the Brand Manager, Ms. Jennings leads EDI’s rebranding initiative, and has created EDI’s EDIA365 Campaign Insignia, updated brand guidelines, and designed a suite of graphics, presentations, and marketing resources for EDI’s campaigns, social media, and website.

As a communications professional with over eight years of experience Ms. Jennings has crafted public relations strategies, led campaigns, developed communication policies, streamlined client relations processes, and leveraged cross-functional collaboration to maximize productivity and internal stakeholder engagement.

Prior to NIH, Ms. Jennings worked as a Public Affairs Specialist at the Social Security Administration (SSA), where she managed content on the Public Affairs Resource Center site, utilized Hootsuite and Google Analytics for data review, and served as a Contracting Officer's Representative. She has also held roles as a Claims Analyst and a Human Resources Specialist in the Employee Development and Training Branch at SSA, an Account and Certification Administrator at the National Association for Healthcare Quality (NAHQ), and a Marketing and Sales Associate at Park West Art Gallery on Princess Cruises, where she created engaging marketing materials and persuasive communication strategies to reach over 3,000 culturally diverse passengers weekly. Her experiences also assisted her in promoting and gaining corporate support for The International Center's 2014 Citizen of the Year Award Ceremony and OCO's IFOCUS cultural values initiative, for which she received an Associate Commissioner Citation for her work on the Communications team.

Ms. Jennings holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and International Studies from Butler University and a Master of Arts in Communication from Johns Hopkins University. Her comprehensive skill set includes strategic communications, stakeholder engagement, content development, graphic design, event coordination, team collaboration, and project management. She also serves as a consultant using her foundation in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) and human centered design to further promote the importance of accessibility and equity.

In his role, Mr. Morrell solves broad, complex, and difficult equal employment opportunity (EEO) problems by analyzing individual EEO issues. Mr. Morrell serves as a reasonable accommodation consultant for the NIH Reasonable Accommodation Program, where he is a reasonable accommodation subject matter expert with more than 17 years of experience in disability advocacy, vocational rehabilitation counseling, disability studies, and the rehabilitation of ethnic minorities.

Before joining NIH as an equal employment specialist, Mr. Morrell worked in the field of vocational rehabilitation counseling for 13 years, assisting persons with disabilities to overcome barriers to employment and to live independently in their communities. Mr. Morrell worked as a vocational rehabilitation counselor at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Benefits Administration Chapter 31 Veteran Readiness and Employment Division. Mr. Morrell also served as a vocational rehabilitation counselor at the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, where he managed Project SEARCH at Alexandria City High School. Mr. Morrell served as a vocational rehabilitation counselor at the State of Georgia’s Vocational Rehabilitation Agency in Atlanta and as a special needs counselor/academic advisor at Delgado Community College in New Orleans.

Mr. Morrell’s skill set includes advocacy, counseling and guidance, caseload management, and development of treatment plans.

Mr. Morrell holds a Master of Science degree in rehabilitation counseling and disability studies and a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Southern University and A&M College.

Mr. Morrison provides web development and information technology program support for EDI.

Mr. Morrison provides comprehensive web development and information technology program support for EDI, where he has been a pivotal team member for more than a decade. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Morrison has consistently demonstrated exceptional performance and dedication in his role. His commitment to advancing a culture of inclusivity is evident through his proactive adoption of innovative technologies and methodologies. Mr. Morrison is particularly adept at leveraging data analytics to inform and guide strategic decisions related to EDI’s website and a range of other IT projects. This data-driven approach ensures that these initiatives are not only effective but also aligned with the overarching goals of the organization.

A significant element of Mr. Morrison’s strategy involves a strong emphasis on accessibility. He prioritizes the design and implementation of digital platforms and IT solutions that are inclusive of all users, including those with disabilities. This focus on accessibility reflects his broader commitment to creating equitable and user-friendly experiences for a diverse audience.

Mr. Morrison’s work is characterized by his robust problem-solving skills, which enable him to address complex challenges efficiently and effectively. His unwavering commitment to delivering superior customer service further underscores his professional ethos. These qualities are integral to his role and significantly contribute to the success and advancement of both his team and the broader organization. His expertise supports the technical needs of EDI and fosters an environment of innovation and inclusivity.

Mr. Morrison develops and maintains the EDI website, the EDI SharePoint site, and various other IT initiatives.

In her role, Ms. Robles provides various administrative functions and support for the Guidance, Education, and Marketing Division, which includes Technology, Marketing, and Communications (TMC) and Access and Equity (AE). She provides support to the TMC and AE branch directors, maintains division contracts, prepares purchase order requests, schedules meetings, prepares travel documents, and tracks time and attendance. Ms. Robles also works with the accessibility technology specialist to stock the accessibility technology room with the goal of providing equity and accessibility in the workplace to the NIH community.

As an administrative specialist with more than 9 years of experience, Ms. Robles streamlines administrative processes, collaborates with administrative staff to create standard operating procedures, and supports EDI leadership.

Prior to joining EDI, Ms. Robles worked as a patient research coordinator and assistant GI Fellowship coordinator at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), where she provided high-level administrative support to the Clinical Director of the Division of Intramural Research and the Director of the Clinical Scholars Gastroenterology Fellowship Program. She also served as a patient care coordinator at the gastroenterology outpatient clinic at the Clinical Center.

During her time with NIDDK, Ms. Robles received the Kelly Government Solutions Distinguished Achievement Award in 2021 for successfully orienting NIDDK’s in-person gastroenterology clinic’s administrative operations to fully remote during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms. Robles served as a clinical research and lab assistant in the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Environmental Autoimmunity Group. She provided direct lab support for four protocols centered on environmental and genetic risk factors for idiopathic inflammatory myopathies.

During her time at the University of Maryland, Ms. Robles worked as an undergraduate principal investigator in the Group Processes Lab, where she developed a research study centered on Latinx research. In addition to marketing and recruiting student participants for her study, she worked on collecting data for a study centered on implicit bias and racial identity threat.

Her extensive skill set includes high-level administrative functions, qualitative research coding, conducting literature reviews, information dissemination and implementation, patient recruitment, laboratory procedures, and social media content development.

Ms. Robles holds a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Maryland, College Park.

Ms. Schwartz provides NIH requestors and decision-makers with guidance and consultation in processing reasonable accommodation (RA) requests. Ms. Schwartz uses her extensive knowledge of federal disability laws and civil rights policy to provide technical assistance to requestors and decision-makers via individual and group engagements. Ms. Schwartz promotes the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion when delivering the NIH Reasonable Accommodation Program’s many training offerings.

Prior to joining NIH, Ms. Schwartz worked as a human resources specialist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, where she conducted mission area activities relating to the reasonable accommodations program, creating and carrying out its policies, practices, and procedures. Ms. Schwartz served as an RA subject matter expert, providing technical assistance to supervisors, employees, and applicants regarding RA policies, in accordance with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission guidance and best practices. Ms. Schwartz and her team created new policies, procedures, supporting forms, supervisory guides, and other communications on such matters as personal assistance services, service animals, religious accommodations, and RAs for individuals at higher risk for complications associated with COVID-19.

Ms. Schwartz served as a senior disability expert with the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Diversity Management and Equal Opportunity, where she resolved DoD complaints relating to violations of the Rehabilitation Act and the Architectural Barriers Act; collaborated with the Department of Labor to support the government-wide Workforce Recruitment Program; and drafted issuances, guidance, and technical assistance on nondiscrimination on the basis of disability for DoD components.

Ms. Schwartz worked at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties as a compliance investigator, conducting investigations into complaints filed by members of the public alleging civil rights violations by employees or officials of DHS, specifically with programs involving immigration, security screening, and law enforcement or intelligence operations.

Ms. Schwartz is skilled in writing, facilitated conversations, and problem-solving.

Ms. Schwartz holds a Juris Doctorate from the American University Washington College of Law and a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in political science from the University of Florida.

Ms. Winderlin enhances the awareness and importance of the EDI mission through strategic communication delivery. She researches, writes, and edits complex information on a variety of topics to interpret and explain a range of equal employment opportunity and diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility subjects. Ms. Winderlin analyzes performance and audience responses to key messages to determine where gaps exist, what information needs to be changed, and how to improve communications to maximize impact. She reviews all projects for consistency with overall agency objectives and recommends changes and assistance to resolve quality assurance in outreach activities.

Ms. Winderlin began her career at NIH as a writer-editor at the National Library of Medicine (NLM) Office of Communication and Public Liaison. Managing the “Musings from the Mezzanine” blog team and producing weekly blog posts helped fulfill NLM’s mission of promoting its vast print collection and electronic information resources on a wide range of topics. Under her leadership, the blog team won a 2022 NIH Director’s Award and a 2023 NLM Staff Appreciation Award for the blog’s redesign. Ms. Winderlin also worked on the NIH MedlinePlus Magazine development team and edited consumer health articles and pitched topics and feature article ideas for the digital magazine and website. Ms. Winderlin ensures documents are compliant with the NIH Style Guide and NIH plain language principles.

Prior to joining NIH, Ms. Winderlin served as a technical writer-editor for the Health Resources and Services Administration Division of Transplantation. In this role, she wrote and edited congressional reports, briefing papers, memos, letters, talking points, and website content. Ms. Winderlin also worked as a public affairs specialist for the Indian Health Service, where she created press releases, reports, media responses, website content, social media messages, and speeches.

Ms. Winderlin began her federal career as a survey statistician at the U.S. Census Bureau, where she developed new data collection procedures and assisted in developing and revising print and automated data collection instruments.

Ms. Winderlin graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism. She received a Master of Science degree in journalism from Ohio University.