Q. I understand that a title following a person’s name should be presented in lowercase. Our Human Resources Department defines official job titles at my college. We have titles that are presented with a comma rather than a preposition. For example: director, human resources, rather than director of human resources. What is the correct way to present the title after a name that includes the comma? Should “human resources” be uppercase or lowercase? Should it be Mary Smith, director, human resources?
A. In running text, Chicago style lowercases titles but caps the names of departments: Mary Smith, director of Human Resources. On a résumé, business card, diploma, door plaque, or such, your comma is appropriate and the title may be capped: Mary Smith, Director, Human Resources.