Cheryl Seminara, Ph.D.

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.