Office of the Director

Mr. Williams is the Director of the NIH Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI). He directs the team in the fulfillment of the office’s mission to establish and maintain a model equal employment opportunity (EEO) program at NIH by leveraging the pillars of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) to advance health discovery.

Prior to joining NIH, Mr. Williams worked for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as the Deputy Executive Director (DED). As the DED, Mr. Williams led the management and administration of the FTC. He also served on the Pandemic Response Team, which assessed the effects of COVID-19 and its impact on FTC staff and operations.

Before serving as the DED, Mr. Williams led the FTC Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Workplace Inclusion, where he developed and implemented employee anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies while providing training across the agency. In addition, Mr. Williams served as the subject-matter expert for the FTC on EEO as well as diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. He initiated and led the FTC's Task Force on Racial Equity to address systemic workplace issues and develop agency goals to cultivate a high-performing, diverse, inclusive, equitable, and engaged workforce.

In alignment with his work as a public servant, Mr. Williams served as the Secretary and Vice Chair for the Small Agency Council (SAC) EEO Diversity and Inclusion (EEODI) Committee. After accepting a promotion to serve as the Chair of the SAC EEODI Committee, he led the initiative for over five years. Mr. Williams began his legal career as a civil rights attorney at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. His legal career spans over 25 years practicing civil rights law.

Mr. Williams earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Morehouse College and a Juris Doctor degree from Howard University School of Law. He is an active member of the New Jersey bar.

Ms. Johnson Graham’s career has spanned more than 38 years, exclusively with NIH in Bethesda, Maryland. Ms. Johnson Graham’s early work experience involved serving as a biologist, conducting biomedical research with the National Cancer Institute’s Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis. In this role, she supported critical research efforts to identify the causes of various cancers, including breast, esophageal, liver, and prostate. Additionally, she performed research designed to diagnose, treat, and work toward a cure for these horrific diseases. Later, she transitioned from conducting biological and physical sciences research to specializing in equal employment opportunity (EEO), applying EEO principles and law to employment practices, policies, and programs at NIH.

After more than 20 years of EEO professional work, Ms. Johnson Graham sought to acquire academic knowledge in the social sciences, as well as business and human resources management and decided to pursue a master’s degree at the School of Continuing Studies at Georgetown University. At Georgetown University, she learned how to apply human resource management, EEO principles, and law to employment practices, policies, and programs at NIH. The human resources management degree includes a focus on diversity and inclusion management. Relevant coursework included Fundamentals of Human Resource Management; Research Process and Methodology; Analyzing and Addressing Institutional Discrimination; Strategic Thinking in Human Resources; Theories of Diversity and Inclusion; Diversity and Inclusion in the International Context in Doha, Qatar; Employment Law; and Data Analytics.

During Ms. Johnson Graham’s career, she has gained more than 25 years of practical application and experience in human resources management, EEO, and civil rights by serving as an EEO specialist, EEO manager, special emphasis program manager, diversity and inclusion strategist, policy advisor, and consultant. Moreover, Ms. Johnson Graham has extensive experience in talent acquisition and management; recruitment; outreach and retention strategies; civil rights and EEO policy; diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility curriculum; and educational development.

Ms. Payne provides administrative management support and serves as the Executive Assistant to the Director. She is also a member of the Administrative Management Team. She is primarily responsible for high-level customer service, which includes scheduling meetings with NIH executives, providing outreach to applicants, coordinating the selection process at all levels, serving on panels, preparing leadership travel, providing advice, mentoring early career individuals, training new hires on administrative processes, and assisting with special projects.

Prior to joining EDI, Ms. Payne served as an administrator and billing coordinator for ENV Services contracted at NIH under Occupational Health and Safety. Prior to joining ENV Services, Ms. Payne was Vice President of Data Operations and Technology for Institutional Shareholder Services, the world's leading provider of corporate governance and responsible investment solutions for asset owners, service providers, managers, and hedge funds. Earlier in her career, Ms. Payne worked as a Qualifications Coordinator for NASDAQ.

Ms. Payne is a recipient of a 2023 NIH Directors Award. She completed a University of South Florida Muma School of Business Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace certificate program. She has completed courses at Prince Georges County Community College.