Biography

Shawn Stokes has more than 20 years’ experience in human resources and financial services. Prior to being appointed Director of the DC Department of Human Resources in April 2011, Shawn served as the Chief Human Capital Officer for the Baltimore City Public Schools, where she provided strategic guidance on talent acquisition and retention, performance evaluation, professional development, and compensation for highly-qualified educators and support staff.

Shawn also was the acting Chief of Staff with Philadelphia School District, where she served as advisor to the superintendent and reviewed policies, programs, operations, and other key areas for improvement. In previous roles within the school district, Shawn served as the Senior Vice President of the Office of Human Resources, where she led a comprehensive human resources program and revamped the development of strategic planning activities to enhance the overall goals for the school district.

In addition to her background in public schools, Shawn also has extensive experience within the private sector. She served as the Director for Recruiting at CIGNA Insurance Company, where managed recruiting operations and budget for the organization.

Shawn’s commitment to human resources and improving organization effectiveness have led her to the District of Columbia Government, where she’s started to review processes and enhance programs, such as the District’s Telecommuting Program.

Shawn earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Delaware State University and a master’s degree in engineering from Connecticut State University. She is a resident of DC’s Ward 5.