About - Dorothy Hayden-Watkins

DOROTHY HAYDEN-WATKINS

Dorothy Hayden WatkinsDorothy Hayden-Watkins is a partner in the firm of Thomas Resolutions, Los Angeles, California. The firm provides services in Executive Coaching, Mediation, Arbitration, and Diversity. Dorothy offers more than 25 years of experience as an educator, administrator, and senior executive in the public and private sectors. She is known for her strong work ethic, ability to inspire others and facilitate change. She is intuitive and analytical in her management approach, collaborative in leadership style and committed to excellence.

Dorothy holds a PhD in Community and Human Resources and a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. She earned her BA Degree in Social Science and Communications at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado.

From 1989 to 1998 and 2002 to 2006 Dorothy was a Senior Executive (SES) in the United States Government Executive Branch. As the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Assistant Administrator of EO and Diversity in Washington, DC she held Agency-wide responsibility for all NASA Centers for EO and Diversity policy and programs, discrimination complaints processing, and alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

She was a District Director of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in California and Ohio, respectively from 1989 to 1998. She had multi-state responsibility for enforcing federal laws that prohibit discrimination in the workplace (through investigation, alternative dispute resolution and litigation). She also administered EEOC’s educational and technical assistance programs (TAPS) to help private sector employers implement proactive steps to ensure equal opportunity and voluntary compliance.

Prior to her work at NASA Dorothy worked at Hilton Hotels Corporation, Beverly Hills, California, 1998 to 2001, where as a Senior Vice President she was an officer of the corporation. In her role she had responsibility for leading the Corporation’s diversity initiative. With leadership from Hilton’s Board of Directors, she helped chart the roadmap for the initiative, established an organizational infra-structure for the effort, and facilitated the integration of diversity principles into the organization’s culture. During her tenure Hilton was rated among the 50 Best Companies for Minorities to Work For as ranked by Fortune Magazine.

In Colorado Dorothy was Director of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission from 19981 to 1989. In that position, she was acknowledged for her leadership in a successful legislative effort to pass an amendment to the state anti-discrimination statutes which prohibits age discrimination in employment. Also while in the Colorado Executive Branch, through the Commission’s Research and Education Department, she directed a United States Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded Comparability Study of discrimination in housing against Blacks and Hispanics. The study was the first of its kind. She testified before the United States Congress on this and other Equal Opportunity matters.

Dorothy was an educator and administrator in the Denver Public School System, the Lincoln Nebraska Schools, and the Cherry Creek Suburban Schools, Englewood, Colorado, prior to her career in government. She held teaching positions and administrative positions responsible for student affairs, staff development, and multi-cultural education. She served on the Board of Directors of a private co-educational K-12 school and has been a University Lecturer. Dorothy was appointed to the North Central Accreditation Association (NCAA) Evaluation Team and traveled abroad to evaluate schools for dependents of US Military Personnel.

Dorothy has published articles on diversity and education, and has served as a public affairs talk show host, member or chairperson of a variety of boards and commissions including Chair of the Federal Executive Board, Cleveland, Ohio, member of the NAACP, the nation’s oldest civil rights organization, and the International Association of Official Human Rights Agencies. She has been the recipient of honors and awards including the Trailblazer Award and the Alumnae Achievement Award form her Alma Maters, the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, respectively. She is also listed in Outstanding Woman of America, Washington, DC.