RELEASE: October 17, 2003

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Commissioner Harris Announces Division Director Appointments

Department of Human Services Commissioner Gwendolyn L. Harris today announced the appointments of Ann C. Kohler as director of the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DMAHS) and Jeanette Page-Hawkins, as the Director of the Division of Family Development (DFD).

Kohler, of East Windsor, was serving as manager of the Office of Management and Budget in the Department of Treasury. Page-Hawkins, of Maplewood, has been serving as acting director of DFD since June.

"I am very happy to name Ann Kohler and Jeanette Page-Hawkins to these key positions in the department," said Harris. "Ann has had a long and distinguished career in government and health care. She will bring the knowledge, experience and expertise we need to run that division.

"Jeanette too has devoted her career to social services and has worked in the public and private sectors for nearly three decades serving low income and other needy people. I am very pleased she has brought that compassion and commitment to this department."

Kohler will take over her new post on October 20. She had served with the state Office of Management and Budget since 2000. Prior to that prior she worked for the state Health Care Facilities Financing Authority, as Medicaid director for the state of New York. She held various posts in the New Jersey DMAHS between 1979 and 1994 including Deputy Director.

Page-Hawkins joined the division in December 2002 as deputy director and has served as the division’s acting director since June 2003. In her career of nearly three decades, she has served as executive director, Newark Emergency Services for Families Inc.; administrator, New Community Harmony House Corp. in Newark; district office manager, Children's Aide and Adoption Society of New Jersey; Associate Director of Cross Counter Inc. in Newark and as district office manager for the Division of Youth and Family Services in Plainfield.

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