For media inquiries only, contact:
Jessica Garon
Phone: 202-866-0535
jgaron@aphsa.org
New members of the Executive Governing Board bring diverse experience and distinct insight to the association’s strategic direction
ARLINGTON, VA – The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) has announced the election of new officers and the appointment of five new members to its Executive Governing Board. The APHSA Board sets the overall strategic direction of the association and oversees its operations to ultimately further its mission.
Newly elected Chair of the Board, Dannette R. Smith, CEO of the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, shared, “I’m honored to take on this expanded role. As human services leaders, we have the ability to create opportunities for everyone to live their fullest lives and strengthen our nation as a whole. In turn, APHSA furthers our ability to do so by providing us with a space to join forces to create collective impact together.”
The Executive Governing Board is instrumental to APHSA’s enduring role in the field. “Well-being for all Americans is built from the ground up, and through the daily work of our members and partners who are dedicated to public service and the common good—including the leaders who serve, govern, and advise us through our board —we can leverage a wide array of experience and insights to make real change for the future,” said Tracy Wareing Evans, President and CEO of APHSA.
As a member-driven organization representing experts in administering programs that build resilience and bolster the well-being of people, APHSA is committed to working within and across systems and sectors. Dr. Jennifer Sullivan, an APHSA board member since 2017 who now serves as the chair of the governance committee stated, “When food security, childcare, child protection, and safe housing are viewed through the lens of improving health outcomes for individuals, families, communities, and broad populations, disparate sectors can develop synergy in approaches and impact.”
The new board leadership positions include:
Elected Officers
- Board Chair – Dannette R. Smith, CEO, Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services
- Vice Chair – Rodney Adams, Former Director, Mecklenburg County (NC) Department of Community Resources
- Treasurer – Reiko Osaki, President and Founder, Ikaso Consulting
Committee Chairs
- Audit – David Hansell, Former Commissioner, New York City Administration for Children's Services
- Finance – Reiko Osaki (above) and Kathy Park, CEO, Evident Change (co-chairs)
- Governance – Jennifer Sullivan, Senior Vice President for Strategic Operations, Atrium Health
The new board members, who began their three-year terms on January 1, 2022, are:
- Leadership Council Chair – Justin Brown, Director, Oklahoma Department of Human Services
- Local Council Chair and Leadership Council Vice Chair – Antonia Jiménez, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services
- Elected Director – Vannessa L. Dorantes, Commissioner, Connecticut Department of Children and Families
- Elected Director – Terry J. Stigdon, Agency Head/Executive Director, Indiana Department of Child Services
- Elected Director – Eboni Washington, Assistant Director, Clark County (NV) Juvenile Justice Services
To learn more about the APHSA Executive Governing Board, including a list of the full roster and member bios, click here.
###
The American Public Human Services Association (APHSA) is a bipartisan national membership association representing state and local health and human services agencies and the subject matter experts that help execute their mission to improve outcomes for people nationwide. Building on their long-standing relationships with health and human services leaders, APHSA focuses on generating pragmatic solutions that advance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.
APHSA connects its members to national policymakers and human-serving organizations across a wide circle of stakeholders in the health and human services sector, as well as key partners in education, housing, employment, and others. They also help members build more capacity for their teams through access to professional education and development conferences, technical expertise, publications, and their Organizational Effectiveness practice. To learn more about APHSA, please visit www.aphsa.org.
