Cheryl Seminara, Ph.D.
Professor: Organizational Change & Culture
Cheryl Ann Seminara has specialized in organizational development,
adult learning, business strategy, and management for over twenty
years. She is the Deputy Chief Learning Officer for the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an operational component within
the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In this role, she manages
employee development for an agency of 7,800 full-time and 12,000
Reservist employees. This furthers the work she had done at DHS
Headquarters leading academic programs and interagency outreach,
authoring and implementing learning and development policy,
coordinating twelve Master degree programs for DHS employees,
co-leading Efficiency Review efforts on behalf of the DHS Chief Human
Capital Officer, and managing strategic partnerships between DHS and
federal agencies and academic institutions. Cheryl has received the
Training Officers Consortium Award for Innovation (2016), the W.
Edwards Deming Award for Excellence in Training (2014), the Training
Officers Consortium Award for Excellence in Leader Development (2013),
and the FEMA Administrators Award for Innovation (2012).
Cheryl led her own consulting business, specializing in strategic
planning and organizational development. The company's focus was to
expand skills and abilities for organizations and enhance efficiency
to help them build their business. She continues to conduct research
in the areas of leadership and cultural intelligence.
Cheryl is a graduate of Ithaca College, where she received a Bachelor
of Science in Communications. She was awarded a Master of Science in
Organizational Leadership from National University in June 2006; a
Ph.D. from Capella University in August 2009 and a Post Graduate
Teaching Certificate in February 2010. She completed a Masters' Degree
in Criminal Justice with Honors in November 2012 from American Public
University, with a Homeland Security Master's Certificate. She has
authored or been the subject of several articles in national
publications. Originally from Boston, MA, she currently resides in
Arlington, VA.