Meredith Gibbs, assistant secretary for policy coordination/chief of staff for the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, has been named new chief of staff for President Irvin D. Reid. Her appointment is effective Aug. 31.

At the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Gibbs developed and implemented policy initiatives, strategic planning and performance measurement systems. In addition, she administered the continuous quality improvement program; managed the day-to-day operations of the Office of the Secretary; helped develop the agency's general fund budget priorities; and had overall supervisory responsibility for the Office of Program Analysis and Audit, Office of Equal Opportunity and Program Equity and Chief Information Officer.

Prior to joining the labor, licensing and regulation department Gibbs was assistant attorney general for the Maryland Departments of the Environment and Natural Resources. She also has served as the director of intergovernmental relations for the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and was an attorney in private practice.

Gibbs has a bachelor's in sociology from Rice University and a law degree from the Columbia University School of Law. She also has served as a facilitator/trainer for the Alternatives to Violence Project, a creative conflict resolution program; and as a hospice volunteer.