As the new African- American (Black) Employment Special Emphasis Program Coordinator, Lekisha T. Hodges is responsible for assisting the IHDIV, NSWC and EOD Technology Divisions to promote and implement EEO and diversity proactive strategies of workforce inclusiveness.
Working with the EEO & Diversity Office, she will support initiatives to educate the workforce, communicate the principles of EEO and diversity, eliminate discrimination, harassment and barriers in the workplace and promote IHDIV and EODTD as equal employment opportunity employers of choice who encourage and value the contributions and benefits of diversity in the workplace.
Hodges hails from the ‘‘Gate City” of Greensboro, N.C., and currently lives in Prince George’s County, Md. She received her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering and her master’s degree in mechanical engineering from North Carolina A&T State University. Attracted by the uniqueness of the engineering positions at Indian Head Division, Hodges accepted an offer to put her talents to work at the Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center in August 2003. She is currently a Program Engineer in the Applied Technology Directorate, Ordnance Department, Cartridge Engineering Branch (T224).
Since being at IHDIV, Lekisha has served on the 33rd term of the IHDIV Professional Development Council (PDC), and served as its Social Committee chairperson. As an alumni member of the D.C. Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), she served as the Secretary (2005-06). She also gives back to the community by teaching adult computer classes at Capitol Hill Computer Corner and serves as a mentor at the General Smallwood Elementary School. In her spare time, she enjoys exercising and reading.
Hodges is inspired most by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because he showed his strength by standing up for his beliefs. In sharing in Dr. King’s belief in diversity and inclusion, Lekisha believes that in a diversified workforce there is innovation which is the key to growth and that inclusion results in a highly skilled workforce that reflects all people. In her role as the African American SEP Coordinator, she plans to communicate and share the diversity and EEO initiatives of the organization with the workforce and emphasize the importance of diversity and the benefits.
Hodges knows that becoming an inclusive and diverse model workforce will take hard work and she is inspired to be a part of that challenge through the words of her favorite quote: ‘‘There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard.”
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