Office of Equal Employment and Minority Affairs

The Office of Equal Employment and Minority Affairs (OEEMA) is responsible for and provides leadership, direction, oversight, and guidance to Smithsonian managers and employees at all levels to promote equal opportunity and diversity in all aspects of the Smithsonian’s employment and business relationships.

The Office's mission is three-fold to: 1) promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the Smithsonian's workforce, programs, and activities; 2) advocate the use of small and disadvantaged businesses in line with directions set forth in P.L. 95-107, The Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, as amended; P.L. 100-656, The Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994; Executive Order 1238; Executive Order 12432; P.L. 105-135, Title VI, The HUBZone Act of 1997; P.L. 106-50, the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999; and the Office of Federal Procurement Policy (OFPP) Letter No. 79-1,1979; and 3) ensure compliance with the applicable Federal EEO mandates--Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; the Equal Pay Act of 1963; the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 501, as amended; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008; the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009; Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008; Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) directives, orders, and issuances.