Terri L. White

Terri L. White
Oklahoma Secretary of Health
In office
2009–2011
Governor Brad Henry
Preceded by Mike Crutcher
Succeeded by Terry Cline
Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services
Assumed office
2007
Governor Brad Henry
Mary Fallin
Preceded by Terry Cline
Personal details
Born October 4, 1973
Edmond, Oklahoma
Residence Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Website Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services

Terri L. White (born 1973) is an American social worker who is the current commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, a position she has held since May 13, 2007. White previously served Democratic Governor of Oklahoma Brad Henry as a member of his Cabinet concurrent to her service as commissioner. White served as Henry's fourth Secretary of Health, becoming the first woman in State history to hold that post. Upon the election of Henry's successor, Republican Mary Fallin, White ceased being a member of the governor's Cabinet but retained her position as commissioner.

Education and early career

White is a graduate of Edmond Public Schools in Edmond, Oklahoma. She received her Bachelor of Arts in social work in 1997 and a master's degree in social work in 1998, both from the University of Oklahoma. After graduating from OU, White accepted a position with the Oklahoma Senate where she would remain until 2001. While working for the State Senate, she worked as a policy analyst and then as a fiscal analyst. As a fiscal analyst, White worked for both the Human Services (2000–01) and the General Government and Transportation (1999–2000) appropriations subcommittees, analyzing budget requests and evaluating agency performance for twenty-seven state agencies.

Oklahoma Public Health Department

White joined the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services in 2001 and has served that department in multiple capacities. In her time with the department, she has served as deputy commissioner for Communications and Prevention, director of Communications and Public Policy, and a management analyst. She has also served as the executive director of two ODMHSAS field facilities – the Tulsa Center for Behavioral Health Co-Occurring Unit and the Central Oklahoma Community Mental Health Center. Concurrently with each of these positions, White served as the chief liaison to the Oklahoma Legislature for the department.[1]

In 2007, while White was serving as the department's director of Communications and Public Policy, then Commissioner Terry Cline resigned after being nominated by (then) President of the United States George W. Bush to become the administrator of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, an agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Following Cline's resignation, on May 13, 2007, the State Board of Mental Health appointed White commissioner of the department as Cline's successor. As commissioner, White serves as the chief executive of the department.

Secretary of Health

In January 2009, Governor Brad Henry, following the resignation of Mike Crutcher, appointed White to serve has his fourth Secretary of Health. As Health Secretary, Secretary White is responsible for overseeing the Oklahoma State Department of Health and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. White serves concurrently as both Secretary of Health and ODMHSAS commissioner.[2] Upon Republican Mary Fallin, Henry's successor as governor, assuming office, White ceased being a member of the governor's Cabinet but retained her position as commissioner.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Terri White named commissioner of Okla. Department of Mental Health." The Journal Record. Retrieved 12-22-09
  2. ↑ "Gov. Henry names Terri White Health Secretary." Office of Governor Brad Henry. Retrieved 12-22-09
Political offices
Preceded by
Mike Crutcher		 Oklahoma Secretary of Health
Under Governor Brad Henry
2009–11 		Succeeded by
Terry Cline
As Secretary of Health and Human Services
Preceded by
Terry Cline		 Oklahoma Commissioner of Mental Health
and Substance Abuse Services
Under Governors Brad Henry and Mary Fallin
2007 - present 		Incumbent
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