NEW CASTLE (Jan. 25, 2022) – Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Secretary Molly Magarik today announced three leadership changes for the agency involving one division and one of the Department’s Deputy Secretary positions.
The changes:
Daniel Walker, who has served in leadership roles with the Wilmington City Council and a Wilmington-based nonprofit education advocacy organization, has been named Deputy Cabinet Secretary for Social Services and Innovation Lead. In his new role, Walker will lead project and change management work for DHSS associated with initiatives coming through Governor John Carney’s Family Services Cabinet Council. He also will represent DHSS with key stakeholders, other government entities, and state boards and committees. He will oversee the Divisions of Social Services (DSS), State Service Centers (DSSC) and Child Support Services (DCSS). Walker previously served as Chief of Staff for the Wilmington City Council, and Executive Director, Deputy Director and State Outreach Manager for the Delaware Campaign for Achievement Now, a nonprofit education advocacy organization. He also has worked as a legislative aide for the Delaware House Majority Caucus and on a campaign of U.S. Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester.
Walker graduated from the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science and earned a Master of Science Degree in Management, Public Administration, from Wilmington University. Walker, who lives in Wilmington, will begin his new role on Feb. 14.
“In his role as Deputy Secretary, Daniel Walker will bring his experience in government and social services, his strong network of community relationships, and his ability to innovate and manage change to help lead our agency as we expect to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and begin a period of sustained recovery,” Secretary Magarik said. “Daniel’s experience will be critical as DHSS joins fellow Cabinet agencies in embracing ongoing and new initiatives from the Family Services Cabinet Council. That experience also will be crucial as our own social services divisions work toward new and more efficient ways to administer current safety net services and benefits for Delawareans in need.”
In addition to the Deputy Secretary announcement, Secretary Magarik also announced these leadership changes:
Deborah Talley-Beane, who has been Acting Director of the Division for the Visually Impaired (DVI) since April 2021, has been named its Director. Before being named Acting Director, Talley-Beane has worked at DVI since 2014 in communications and outreach roles, and as Acting Deputy Director from February to July 2020, and as Deputy Director from July 2020 to April 2021. In addition to her work at DVI, she has almost 20 years in the field of employment services for individuals with disabilities and previously served as Executive Director of the Delaware Business Leadership Network. Talley-Beane lives in Wilmington with her family. She will begin in her new role on Feb. 13.
Jamie Towns, who has been Acting Deputy of the Division for the Visually Impaired since June 2021, has been named its Deputy Director. He has worked for the State of Delaware since 2010, first, with the Department of Labor, and, since 2014, with DHSS in administrative roles at DVI and also with the Division of Services for Aging and Adults with Physical Disabilities (DSAAPD). Before joining the State, he worked for MBNA, holding management roles in Telemarketing, Loyalty Marketing, Credit, Collections, Customer Retention, Corporate LAN, Desktop and Server Support. Towns, who earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Engineering from the University of Delaware, lives in Middletown with his family. He will begin in his new role on Feb. 13.
The Department of Health and Social Services, with about 3,500 employees, is responsible for meeting the health and social service needs of Delawareans by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency and protecting vulnerable populations.