WASHINGTON – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today the selection of Melinda Caraballo as the new director of agency’s Phoenix district, with offices in Albuquerque, Denver, and Phoenix.

Originally from Waukesha, Wisconsin, Caraballo has served as the deputy director of the Phoenix District Office, a position she held since 2018, and was named acting district director in 2022.

“Melinda Caraballo leads by example, takes initiative and serves with passion and commitment,” said EEOC Chair Charlotte A Burrows. “She is a dynamic leader, with significant experience in civil rights enforcement, and the EEOC is fortunate to have her leadership in the Phoenix District.”

Caraballo began working for the EEOC in 2005 as a federal investigator for the Charlotte District Office. In 2010, she served as a supervisory investigator in Phoenix, and between 2015 and 2018 she was a program analyst for the Office of Field Programs in Washington, D.C. In this role, she designed and implemented the Digital Online Charge Intake System, which streamlined nationwide EEOC’s electronic processes for filing charges and navigating cases.

“I am honored to be named the Phoenix District director. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. so eloquently stated, ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter,” Caraballo said. “In this new role, I am committed to amplifying the voices of those who face discrimination and working tirelessly to create a world that reflects Dr. King’s dream. I look forward to continuing his legacy in moving the Phoenix District toward a better tomorrow.”

Caraballo earned her bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and her master’s degree in criminal justice from La Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, where she graduated summa cum laude.

The EEOC’s Phoenix District Office has jurisdiction over Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico.

The EEOC prevents and remedies unlawful employment discrimination and advances equal opportunity for all. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.