Ida L. Castro

Ida L. Castro
Ida L. Castro
Chairwoman of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
In office October 23, 1998 – August 13, 2001

Ida L. Castro born in 1953 in New York City, New York was the first Hispanic/Latina appointed by President Bill Clinton and unanimously confirmed as Chairwoman of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and served from October 23, 1998, to August 13, 2001. During her tenure Castro eliminated the charge backlog, increased the operating budget and effectively applied all laws within EEOC jurisdiction.

Castro received a B.A. degree from the University of Puerto Rico, and M.A. Labor Studies from Rutgers Graduate School and Juris Doctor degree from Rutgers School of Law-Newark in 1982. She is licensed in New York and New Jersey. She has presented in universities, colleges and keynoted speeches and national events and has been recognized for her achievements by the NJ Hispanic Bar Association, Mexican American Leadership and Education Fund, Rutgers Alum Hall of Fame, Rutgers School of Law Alumni Association. She was also awarded an honorary doctorate of Human Letters by St. Joseph's College.

Prior to joining the EEOC, Castro served as the acting director of the Women's Bureau at the United States Department of Labor from 1996 to 1998. She also served at Department of Labor as deputy assistant secretary and director of the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs from 1994 to 1996. During her service she received three Hammer Awards granted by Vice President Al Gore for her leadership in restructuring and streamlining government.

Prior to her service for the Administration, Ms. Castro worked as a labor and employment lawyer as well as a professor. She was the first woman to earn tenure as an associate professor at Rutgers University, Institute for Management and Labor Relations. During her extensive career as an attorney, she held the following positions: Senior Legal Counsel for Legal Affairs, Health and Hospital Corporation of New York City, the nation's largest municipal health care system; Special Counsel to the President and Director of Labor Relations, Hostos Community College, City University of New York; Associate counsel, Eisner, Levy, Pollack and Ratner; and Associate Counsel, Giblin and Giblin. Castro, representing the New Jersey Public Advocate's Office was a member of the litigation team during the trial of the seminal case Abbot v. Burke, in New Jersey effectively causing the eventual restructuring of the financing of public education to increase equities of poor urban children.

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