New Beginnings: The Future of OKDHS Director Ed Lake Shares Vision for Agency

OKLAHOMA CAPITOL -- Equipped with a new vision and commitment to the citizens of Oklahoma, OKDHS Director Ed Lake is ready to take the agency to new heights.  As part of the agency’s Practice and Policy Lecture Series, Lake will share his insights and vision for the future of OKDHS.  “New Beginnings:  The Future of OKDHS” will be held Monday, February 11, from Noon until 1 p.m. at the Oklahoma History Center, 800 Nazih Zuhdi Drive in Oklahoma City.

As the OKDHS moves forward with restructuring and organizational changes, Lake’s leadership will be pivotal.  Since joining the OKDHS in November, the new director has been soliciting feedback from staff across the state.  The upcoming lecture allows him to share some of the things he learned from a series of recent “listening sessions.”

Lake came to the OKDHS from Nashville, Tennessee.  He worked at almost every level of the Tennessee Department of Human Services from 1973 until his retirement in 2011 as the deputy commissioner of that agency.  Lake has extensive experience with organizational change and oversaw comprehensive restructuring of the Tennessee DHS.  He worked to improve client services and build external support of the department’s efforts by working closely with advisory groups of advocates, legal aid staff, and other key external stakeholder groups.

The Practice and Policy Lecture Series has been developed to provide thought-provoking presentations on Oklahoma's emerging policy issues, trends and best practices. The series is sponsored by the OKDHS Office of Planning, Research and Statistics and the University of Oklahoma Center for Public Management with the goal of providing the best educational opportunities available in a forum that offers participants an opportunity to question, share and learn from each other. 

All lectures are free and open to the public. For more information contact the Office of Planning, Research and Statistics at (405) 521-3552 or visit the Practice and Policy Lecture Series ​website 

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