Charlotte Burrows facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlotte Burrows
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| Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | |
| In office January 20, 2021 – January 20, 2025 |
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| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | Janet Dhillon |
| Succeeded by | Andrea R. Lucas (acting) |
| Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission | |
| Assumed office January 13, 2015 |
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| President | Barack Obama Donald Trump Joe Biden Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Jacqueline Berrien (seat 1) Chai Feldblum (seat 2) |
| Succeeded by | Keith Sonderling (seat 1) |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) Yale University (JD) |
Charlotte A. Burrows is an American lawyer and government leader. From 2021 to 2025, she was the top leader (called the Chair) of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC is a government agency that works to stop unfair treatment in jobs. Ms. Burrows first joined the EEOC as a commissioner in 2015. Before that, she worked as a top lawyer for the government. She is a member of the Democratic Party. She also worked as an assistant and advisor for Senator Ted Kennedy.
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Learning and Early Career
Charlotte Burrows is the daughter of Rodney Burrows, a university professor. She graduated from Princeton University in 1992. She is also a member of the Association of Black Princeton Alumni. Later, she went to Yale Law School and earned her law degree in 1996.
Starting Her Legal Work
After law school, Ms. Burrows worked for Judge Timothy K. Lewis. He was a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. She also worked as a lawyer at a private firm called Debevoise & Plimpton.
Working in Government
Ms. Burrows was a main assistant to Senator Ted Kennedy. She worked with him on important committees in the Senate. These committees dealt with health, education, labor, and justice. While working on Capitol Hill, she helped create important laws. These included the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009. This law helps make sure people get paid fairly. She also worked on changes to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 2008. The ADA helps protect people with disabilities.
Later, Ms. Burrows worked for the Department of Justice (DOJ). She was part of the Civil Rights Division, which works to protect people's rights. In 2009, she became a special lawyer for the Attorney General within the DOJ.
Leading the EEOC
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is a government agency. It makes sure that employers treat everyone fairly in the workplace. This means no unfair treatment based on things like race, gender, religion, or disability.
Becoming a Commissioner
On September 12, 2014, President Barack Obama announced that Ms. Burrows would join the EEOC. She was chosen to replace Jacqueline A. Berrien. The Senate approved her nomination with a large vote of 93 to 2. She officially started her role as a commissioner on January 13, 2015. In 2018, as an EEOC member, Ms. Burrows encouraged Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. This act aims to help close the pay gap between men and women.
Serving as Chair of the EEOC
On January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden chose Ms. Burrows to be the Chair of the EEOC. She took over from Janet Dhillon. As Chair, Ms. Burrows focused on making sure people get paid fairly. This was a main goal for the agency. She also wanted to make sure that people who care for others are protected in the workplace.
As the leader, Ms. Burrows also gave out important rules. These rules stated that employers must give employees equal access to bathrooms and locker rooms. This access should match the employee’s gender identity. To help the EEOC work better, Ms. Burrows pushed to hire 450 new full-time employees.
