Washington, DC - U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Acting Director Beth F. Cobert announced Tuesday the appointment of Dr. Zina B. Sutch as the agency’s new Director of the Office of Diversity of Inclusion (ODI). 

“I am very happy that Dr. Sutch is joining OPM’s team,” said Acting Director Cobert. “Her extensive work experience and her knowledge of diversity and inclusion issues will be a tremendous advantage as we continue to build and maintain a Federal workforce that draws top talent from throughout this nation.” 

Dr. Sutch’s main responsibilities will be to examine Federal policies, gov­ernment-wide data trends, and employee survey findings that affect OPM’s management of HR policy, specifically those that deal with diversity and inclusion issues throughout the Federal government. In addition, Dr. Sutch will work with Federal departments and agencies to help them better understand how to recruit and retain talented individuals from all communities, and she will develop comprehensive strategies to drive and integrate diversity and inclusion practices. 

“OPM’s Office of Diversity and Inclusion has accomplished a great deal, and I am looking forward to building on its many successes,” said Dr. Sutch. “I am also looking forward to making sure Federal departments and agencies have the tools they need to create a Federal workforce that recruits from every segment of society, every community.” 

Prior to joining OPM, Dr. Sutch served as the Director of the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of the Executive Secretariat, leading its oversight of all correspondence for USDA’s Secretary Vilsack. She also served as USDA’s Director of Diversity, Recruitment and Work/Life in the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration. In that position, she led the development and implementation of programs and policies that helped ensure a modern, diverse, and inclusive workforce. She also oversaw accountability efforts for the Secretary’s Cultural Transformation initiative, analyzing data across categories that include diversity, hiring reform, training, and leadership, while focusing on employee engagement. 

"Dr. Sutch is no stranger to challenges,” Cobert said. “She has demonstrated that many times in her professional life, and she will make improvements that will make the Federal Government a better and more attractive employer in today’s very competitive - and diverse - job market.” 

Dr. Sutch’s career at USDA began when she joined the Federal government as the Leadership Development Program Manager at USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service in 2006 and progressed to the department level when she served as a Training Officer for the International Technology Services Division for the Chief Information Officer. She has been with the Federal government for 10 years and has more than 20 years of experience in the field of education and training in both the public and private sectors. 

Dr. Sutch possesses a Ph.D. from the College of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park, and a Masters degree from the Graduate School of Education and Human Development at the George Washington University. She has two daughters and currently lives in Falls Church Virginia.