My name is Shawana Holliday-Wood and I’m a human resources generalist principal, based at Postal Service headquarters in Washington, DC.
I help USPS respond to requests made under the Freedom of Information Act, also known as FOIA, a law that allows individuals to access records from any federal agency, and the Privacy Act, a law that allows individuals to access government records about themselves.
Most requests are pretty routine and entail gathering and reviewing records and making redactions to protect sensitive information. USPS has a responsibility to protect the privacy of its employees and customers, so not all requested information can be disclosed.
We receive and process many more requests than we did a few years ago. There’s also been a big shift from paper to digital records.
In addition to my FOIA and Privacy Act duties, I provide support on other human resources matters.
I’m originally from Pittsburgh and moved to the Washington area in 1998. I began my Postal Service career as a contractor that year, then was hired as a career employee in 2000.
When I’m not at work, I enjoy spending time with my family. I also enjoy cooking, reading and — my newest hobby — crocheting.
My career highlights include being instrumental in naming a Human Resources conference room at headquarters. My suggested name, the Think Tank, won the most votes in a competition among HR employees.
I also take pride in receiving a Chief FOIA Officer’s Award, both this year and in 2020, for my efforts in helping the Postal Service respond to FOIA requests. I believe I have a unique skill set that helps USPS stay in compliance with the law.
The Postal Service has been a great place to work because I have gained a lot of knowledge regarding the inner workings of our organization and other federal agencies. I have made many wonderful friendships throughout my career.
“On the Job,” a column on individual employees and their contributions to the Postal Service, appears regularly in Link.
