Tawana Y. James, the NCUA'sdirector of the Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, retired onFriday.

The NCUA announced that Linda Dent, the NCUA's associate generalcounsel for administrative law will take over as acting director. The NCUA added it plans to name a permanent OMWIdirector at a later date.

James, who joined the NCUA in 1980, led the establishment of theagency's Office of Minority and Women Inclusion in 2011 required bythe Dodd-Frank Act.

“Promoting greater diversity is one of this agency's toppriorities and Tawana has served NCUA and the credit union systemwell in her role as point person on these issues. She took on theformidable task of creating a new office with broadresponsibilities and succeeded,” said NCUA Board Chairman DebbieMatz. “She also provided valuable support for credit unions servingdiverse communities. Everyone has benefitted from her wealth ofexperience and her top-notch management skills, and we will missher greatly.”

James started as a temporary technician at the NCUA in 1980 andlater became an examiner. Since 1994, she served in executive levelpositions at the NCUA, including director of the Office of SmallCredit Union Initiatives, deputy executive director, a regionaldirector, deputy Director of the Office of Examination andInsurance, and an associate regional director of operations.

“Tawana James has spent 36 years in public service and has beena valuable employee at NCUA,” said Board Member Michael E. Fryzel.“She has done an outstanding job as head of the Office of MinorityWomen and Inclusion, and her expertise will be missed. We wish hergood health and happiness as she begins the next chapter in herlife.”

James holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Towson StateUniversity and attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government'sProgram for senior managers. She has received the 2012 Supervisorof the Year Award and the 2007 Pete Crear Lifetime AchievementAward from the NCUA.