Director of Civil Rights
Angilla Denton serves Rural Development as the Civil Rights Director and has responsibility and oversight of Rural Development’s nationwide Civil Rights programs and Equal Employment Opportunity programs.
Angilla has over 20 years of management experience in both the public and private sector. Since her arrival at Rural Development in 2002, Angilla has served as a Loan Specialist, Area Director, and Administrative Program Director. Ms. Denton has led multiple committees and special initiatives, including training under Strike Force, EEO Committee advisor, Nevada RD Affordable Housing Chair, Cultural Transformation activities and Special Emphasis Programs.
Prior to RD, Angilla held a Nevada Real Estate License and Property Management Permit and worked extensively in the affordable housing field where she provided oversight and leadership in the management of complex federally financed apartments.
Angilla graduated with honors from the University of Phoenix, and holds a Master’s Degree in Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business with an emphasis in Management.
Program Compliance Branch Chief
Sharese C. Paylor serves Rural Development as the Civil Rights Program Compliance Branch Chief and has responsibility and oversight of Rural Development's nationwide civil rights programs and employee engagement/development.
Ms. Paylor monitors compliance reviews in accordance with Title VI Civil Rights Law, ADA, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and a host of other civil rights laws, regulations, and executive orders. In addition, Ms. Paylor provides technical assistance to both internal and external customers.
Prior to her current position, Ms. Paylor was an Equal Opportunity Specialist with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity. Before working at HUD, she was the Supervisor for the State of Delaware Division of Human Relations.
Ms. Paylor has received a Federal Fair Housing Investigator certification from HUD. She is a certified Real Estate Fair Housing Law Instructor for the Delaware Real Estate Commission. She serves as a trainer, facilitator and a motivational speaker.
She graduated with distinguished honors from Wilmington University, with two Master of Science degrees in Public Administration and Human Resource Management. Ms. Paylor is currently pursuing her Doctor of Education in Organization Leadership and Innovation from Wilmington University. Additionally, Ms. Paylor is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa and Delta Epsilon Rho National Honor Society.
Ms. Paylor also serves on several other professional/community boards. Sharese has been committed to equal rights of all people for over thirty-seven years, and will continue to do so.
Equal Employment Opportunity Branch Chief
Lance Green serves Rural Development as the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Branch Chief and has responsibility and oversight of Rural Development’s nationwide EEO program.
Lance has over 20 years of management experience in both the military and public sector. Since his arrival at Rural Development in 2015, Lance has served as the Diversity and Inclusion Program Manager. His background consists of service as an Equal Opportunity Program Manager, Equal Employment Opportunity Counselor, Disability Program Manager, Special Emphasis Program Manager, and EEO Specialist. In addition to these responsibilities, he has also served as climate assessment team lead as well as the Disabled Veteran Affirmative Action Program (DVAAP) Manager.
Mr. Green is a U.S. Army Veteran after 20 years of active duty service as a certified Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)/Department of the Army Air Traffic Controller, with assignments as a Paratrooper in the elite 82nd Airborne Division and U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) for over a decade.
Lance Green has a Master’s Degree in Human Environmental Science from the University of Alabama with a specialization in Consumer Quality Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in General Studies with emphasis in Management from Columbia College. Lance has also held a FAA Air Traffic Control license.
Lance is originally from Gary, Indiana and now currently resides in Anne Arundel County Maryland. He and his wife, Carie, have two sons and a daughter who also reside in Maryland.
Civil Rights Policy Statement
USDA's Civil Rights Policy Statement is issued by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. For questions on issues or to file a complaint you may contact the Rural Development Civil Rights staff or call them at 1-800-787-8821 .
You may also direct fair housing complaints to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). For more information call 1-800-669-9777 or visit HUD's webpage at www.hud.gov.
Important Documents
Limited English Proficiency Information
LEP persons are individuals who do not speak English as their primary language and who have limited ability to read, speak, write, or understand English. LEP statues and authorities prohibit exclusion from participation in, denial of benefits of, and discrimination under federally assisted and/or conducted programs on the ground of race, color, or national origin.
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of national origin covers program access for LEP persons. These protections are pursuant to Executive Order 13166 entitled, “Improving Access to Services by Persons with Limited English Proficiency” and further affirmed in the USDA Departmental Regulation 4330-005, “Prohibition Against National Origin Discrimination Affecting Persons with Limited English Proficiency in Programs and Activities Conducted by USDA” and the RD LEP Plan.
It is RD policy to provide equal opportunity in all programs, services, and activities to LEP persons. The Department of Justice’s LEP Guidance provides agencies with a framework to assess agencies’ LEP services. To assist RD in complying with all applicable LEP laws, regulations, rules, and policies, you may view the following documents: