Rita Henderson was appointed as Director of the City of Richmond’s Office of Minority Business Development on January 2, 2006. Previously she served as Director of the VA Council on Human Rights and was appointed to that position in January of 2004 by former Gov. Mark Warner. The Council was established in 1987 by the VA General Assembly for the purpose of protecting all citizens within the Commonwealth from unlawful discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status or disability in places of public accommodation, including educational institutions, in real estate transactions and in employment. The Council also protects citizens against unfounded charges of unlawful discrimination. Prior to her appointment as Director, she served as the Director of former Gov. Mark Warner’s Office of Constituent Services. She was the first African American appointed to that position by a governor.

Ms. Henderson has a Master of Science degree in biology with a concentration in parasitology from Virginia State University and an undergraduate degree in biology from Hampton University. She is a graduate of the Executive Leadership Program at Duke University, Leadership Metro Richmond and the VA Executive Institute of the Commonwealth of VA.

Experienced in governmental relations and policy, she has served as the Chief of Staff to two Mayors of the City of Richmond, VA and as a Council Liaison for four members of the Richmond City Council. She has been a District Manager, the Director of Youth and Family Support Programs and a member of the Richmond City Manager’s Senior Management team.

Rita has served on the Board of Trustees for the Science Museum of VA, the Joint Hospitals Board of Bon Secours Richmond Health System and on the Executive Board of the Urban League of Greater Richmond. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and James River Valley Chapter, The Links, Inc.