I just learned today that earlier this week, Jacqueline Berrien, the first Chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission appointed by President Obama, died of cancer at the age of 53.

Ms. Berrien stepped down from the EEOC in 2014. The agency's current Chair is Jenny Yang.

I did not always agree with Ms. Berrien, and I've given her what I hope she took as some good-natured grief about some of the EEOC's positions under her leadership. (Assuming she paid any attention to this blog.) Nonetheless, I am very sorry to hear about her death, and we offer our condolences and prayers to her husband, Peter Williams, and to her family and friends.

The Washington Post has a nice article about Ms. Berrien's career. And here is the press release from the EEOC.

Here is a statement from President Obama.

Many thanks to blogging colleague Jason Shinn who alerted us to this news.