Daniels named director of Olmsted County Public Health

Olmsted County Public Health is promoting Denise Daniels to lead the department on a permanent basis, officials announced Monday.

Daniels takes over the position after 18 years with the county, most recently as an associate director of Public Health, during which time she served as incident commander of the department’s response to Covid-19.

Daniels also briefly served as interim co-director alongside Michael Melius following the abrupt departure of former director Graham Briggs last fall.

“Denise is an exceptional leader who draws in others and empowers them to perform at their highest levels in individual and team settings,” said Melius, an associate director of Public Health. “Her skills, knowledge, and abilities were regularly demonstrated during her time as Incident Commander in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Daniels has a bachelor’s degree in community health education and a master’s degree in organizational leadership.

Her first official day as director will be April 11.

Cover photo: Denise Daniels / Submitted