PUBLICATIONS

Susan N. Dreyfus, DSHS Secretary

Susan N. Dreyfus is DSHS Secretary, appointed by the Governor and a member of the Governor’s Executive Cabinet.

A Wisconsin resident for the past 33 years, Susan was executive vice president for strategy with Rogers Behavioral Health System, Inc., the largest non-profit behavioral health provider in Wisconsin, serving children and adults from across the nation, before becoming DSHS Secretary May 18, 2009. Prior to joining Rogers in 2007, Susan served for five years as senior vice president and chief operating officer of the National Alliance for Children and Families and Families International. With the Alliance, Susan consulted with nonprofit human service agencies across the country on a range of governance, organizational and program areas, including child welfare practice, system design and management, contracting, policy, and state and federal financing.

In 1996, Susan was appointed administrator of the Division of Children and Family Services within the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services under Gov. Tommy G.Thompson. For nearly seven years she led this office responsible for child welfare, regulation and licensing of child care facilities, youth development and other community programs. In this role, Susan successfully led many state reform efforts in child welfare.

"Throughout my career, I have been committed to improving the lives of vulnerable children and adults and their families," Susan says. "Washington is known for its commitment to human services. We now need to work together in even stronger alliances with shared responsibility to ensure our programs and funding are being delivered as effectively as possible for the future."

Susan is married with three adult children. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Wisconsin - Green Bay and attended the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.