EEOC Announces Two Senior Agency Appointments

WASHINGTON - Andrea Lucas, chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), today announced two new appointments to the agency's senior leadership team.

The new appointments are Heather Olowski as the EEOC's Legal Counsel, head of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC), and Kelley McLean as Principal Legislative Director in the Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs (OCLA). Both bring deep expertise to the agency and will play a critical role in executing the agency's strategic priorities under the leadership of Chair Lucas.

"I am proud to announce these key additions to the EEOC's senior leadership team," said Chair Lucas. "The EEOC has a critical mission to fulfill, and these senior leaders will further strengthen the agency's ability to restore evenhanded enforcement of the civil rights laws on behalf of all Americans."

Heather Olowski is a member of the Senior Executive Service and now serves as the EEOC's Legal Counsel, head of the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC). In this role, she will provide counsel to the Chair, develop policy guidance and regulatory actions, provide technical assistance to employers and employees, and coordinate with other agencies and stakeholders regarding the statutes and regulations enforced by the EEOC.

OLC also conducts and coordinates defensive litigation on behalf of the Chair and the Commission and advises agency officials on administrative issues such as contracts, disclosures, ethics, fiscal law, the Privacy Act, and recordkeeping matters. OLC also houses the agency's FOIA Division and its Records Management Division.

Olowski brings more than 15 years of substantive legal experience and is a recognized leader in civil rights enforcement, employment law and human capital management. Most recently, she served as director of the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of State.

Olowski said, "I am proud to join Chair Andrea Lucas and the dedicated professionals at the EEOC to advance the agency's mission of protecting equal opportunity in America. The EEOC's work has a direct impact on American workers and workplaces across the country, and I look forward to contributing to the agency's enforcement of the nation's civil rights laws."

Olowski earned her undergraduate degree with high honors from the University of California, Berkeley, and her juris doctor from Georgetown University Law Center, where she served as an editor of the American Criminal Law Review. She is a longstanding member of the Federalist Society civil rights practice group and Executive Committee.

Kelley McLean serves as the Principal Legislative Director in the Office of Communications and Legislative Affairs at the EEOC. In this role, she serves as the agency's senior liaison to Congress, advancing the Chair's legislative and policy priorities and leading engagement with Members of Congress and their staff.

McLean is a government affairs and public policy professional with more than 15 years of experience leading legislative, policy, and strategic initiatives across Capitol Hill, the executive branch, and the nonprofit sector. She joined the EEOC from First Liberty Institute, where she served as Director of Government Affairs, leading federal advocacy efforts and engagement with Congress, the White House, and executive branch agencies on religious liberty and related policy issues.

Prior to First Liberty, McLean served as Legislative Assistant to Senator James Lankford, advising the Senator on a broad policy portfolio and helping oversee the Senate Values Action Team. She also served as Government Affairs Fellow at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. Earlier, she ran the House Values Action Team under its founding chairman, Congressman Joseph Pitts, where she advised Members of Congress and congressional staff on a wide range of policy issues.

Before her work on Capitol Hill, McLean held government relations roles with nonprofit organizations focused on advancing human rights, religious freedom, and rule of law initiatives internationally.

McLean said, "I am honored to join Chair Andrea Lucas and the talented team at the EEOC at this important moment for the agency. The Chair has articulated a clear commitment to restoring evenhanded enforcement of the nation's workplace civil rights laws, strengthening public confidence in the agency's work, and ensuring that the EEOC serves all Americans fairly and impartially. I look forward to advancing that mission and strengthening engagement with Congress and stakeholders across the country."

McLean holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Affairs and Asian Studies from Austin College.

The EEOC is the sole federal agency authorized to investigate and litigate against businesses and other private sector employers for violations of federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. For public sector employers, the EEOC shares jurisdiction with the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division. The EEOC also is responsible for coordinating the federal government's employment antidiscrimination effort. More information about the EEOC is available at www.eeoc.gov .