Civil Rights Veteran Now Responsible for Enforcing Agency’s Mission in Much of Florida, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands
MIAMI – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today that Evangeline Hawthorne has been named director of its Miami District Office.

As district director, Hawthorne will manage and oversee the EEOC’s work enforcing the federal laws against employment discrimination in 55 Florida counties, as well as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The EEOC’s Miami District has about 125 employees and includes offices in Tampa and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“The EEOC is fortunate to have Vangie Hawthorne, a civil rights veteran, in this important position,” said EEOC Chair Charlotte A. Burrows. “Her experience and commitment to the agency’s mission will be invaluable as we meet the challenges of enforcing the nation’s laws against employment discrimination.”

Hawthorne has served as director of the EEOC’s Tampa Field Office since 2016. In that position, she was responsible for promoting equality of opportunity in the workplace and enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination in 23 central and western Florida counties. She was recently named the acting director of the Miami District.

Hawthorne said, “I am pleased and honored that Chair Burrows has entrusted me with leading the Miami District. I am dedicated to ensuring that all workers in our jurisdiction have equal employment opportunity. I look forward to working with and leading a talented and diverse group of employees who are committed to our noble mission of eradicating workplace discrimination.”

Hawthorne began her career with the EEOC in 1999. Over the years, she has served in several capacities at the Commission, including as a senior investigator for the Philadelphia District Office, an enforcement supervisor in the Baltimore Field Office, program analyst in Washington, D.C. headquarters, the acting deputy director for the Washington Field Office and the national outreach and development manager at the Commission’s Washington, D.C. headquarters. During her tenure with the EEOC, Hawthorne has been the recipient of numerous agency awards.

Prior to joining the EEOC, Hawthorne worked for the Delaware Department of Labor, Division of Industrial Affairs as an investigator and enforcement supervisor, where she enforced state and federal employment discrimination laws.

Hawthorne holds a master’s degree in public administration from Wilmington University and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Rutgers University.

The EEOC advances opportunity in the workplace by enforcing federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. More information is available at www.eeoc.gov. Stay connected with the latest EEOC news by subscribing to our email updates.