Rhonda Nesmith Crichlow
Vice President & Head, U.S Diversity & Inclusion
Novartis AG
Rhonda Crichlow serves as the Vice President and Head, US Diversity & Inclusion, for Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation (NPC). Appointed to this role in November 2011, Rhonda is responsible for implementing NPC’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy, focused on fostering an inclusive environment and ensuring alignment with NPC’s key business objectives. Previously, Rhonda served as the Executive Director, Alliance Development & Philanthropy, and was responsible for overseeing strategic efforts to build sustainable relationships with patient advocacy organizations and professional societies, and driving the US strategy and implementation of NPC’s philanthropic initiatives, volunteer programs, and workplace giving campaigns. Rhonda also serves as a member of the Pharmaceutical Executive Committee and Secretary of the Novartis Patient Assistance Foundation. She joined NPC as the Executive Director of Philanthropy and Community Development in March 2006.
Prior to joining NPC, Mrs. Crichlow was a legal consultant for the Office of the Monitor, which was established pursuant to the Consent Decree entered in the Pigford v. Glickman and Brewington v. Glickman lawsuits. The Pigford and Brewington litigations involve nationwide class actions brought by African-American farmers alleging racial discrimination in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s farm credit and non-credit benefit programs. Her primary responsibility involved deciding the merits of Petitions for Monitor Review and drafting decisions evaluating whether an Adjudicator should be mandated to reexamine class members’ claims. Prior to this engagement, she worked at two law firms as a tax attorney representing corporate clients with respect to federal tax controversy, litigation, and business planning matters. Ms. Crichlow also served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Ronald L. Buckwalter in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
In April 2013, Mrs. Crichlow received the Cornerstone of the Community Award, which recognized her long-standing support as a volunteer and board member of Family Service of Morris County, one of the oldest non-profit organizations in Morris County. Mrs. Crichlow is also a 2010 Helping People Move Forward Award recipient, in recognition of her efforts to improve the quality of life of New Jersey residents, and a 2008 YMCA Tribute to Women and Industry Award recipient. She is a past Chair of the Board for the Association of Corporate Contributions Professionals, and formerly served on the Board of Trustees for the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers.
She received her undergraduate degree from The George Washington University, a Master of Public Policy from Duke University, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia Law School. She lives in Upper Montclair, New Jersey with her husband, David, and two children, Andrew and Joelle.
Meet The BlackDoctor.org 2nd Annual Top Blacks In Healthcare Awards Honorees was originally published on blackdoctor.org
