Marta Brito Perez, associate director for human capital leadership and merit system accountability in the federal Office of Personnel Management (OPM), will give a lecture as the Wachovia Distinguished Speaker at Virginia Tech’s Pamplin College of Business.

Perez’s talk, “Working for America: diversity matters,” will be take place on Thursday, April 14, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. in 1045 Pamplin Hall. Through case studies and discussion, Perez will seek to establish the business case for diversity. She will raise questions for administrators, faculty, and students regarding the application of diversity and the education of a “new student” and seek to give participants a broader perspective on diversity and key strategies for linking diversity to organizational goals and business objectives.

Since 2002, Perez has spearheaded the implementation of the federal government’s “Strategic Management of Human Capital” initiative, aimed at addressing talent gaps, building leadership capacity, and developing a performance culture in federal agencies. Perez also leads the federal government’s “Call to Serve” initiative, designed to educate students about the importance of a strong civil service, help re-establish links between federal agencies and campuses, and provide students with information about the opportunities that federal jobs provide.

Before joining OPM, Perez was director of the Office of Human Resources for Montgomery County, Md., and worked 19 years as a manager with the International Association of Chiefs of Police. She has a Master of Science degree in organization development and human resources from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminology from the University of Maryland.

The Wachovia Distinguished Speaker series in the Pamplin College is made possible by a grant from Wachovia Bank. Past speakers have included senior executives from Goldman Sachs International, AT&T, GE, IBM, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Ferguson Enterprises.

Virginia Tech’s nationally ranked Pamplin College of Business offers undergraduate and graduate programs in accounting and information systems, business information technology, economics, finance, hospitality and tourism management, management, and marketing. The college emphasizes the development of leadership skills and ethical values and the integration of technology in the academic curriculum, and prepares students for global business challenges through faculty-led study abroad programs. A member of the college’s marketing faculty directs the interdisciplinary Sloan Foundation Forest Industries Center at Virginia Tech. The college’s other research centers focus on business leadership, electronic commerce, and organizational performance. The college is committed to serving business and society through the expertise of its faculty, alumni, and students.

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