New DES Director is a friend of LAMA
ARIZONA, USA — Governor-elect Katie Hobbs is continuing to announce new positions to fill her cabinet at the start of her administration in 2023.
Among the new names announced is Angie Rodgers, whom Hobbs' has tapped to take over the Department of Economic Security, the agency in charge of things like unemployment benefits, welfare and protecting vulnerable communities.
Rodgers has been the head of the Arizona Food Bank Network for a decade. She is a founding partner of the new Arizona Anti-Hunger Alliance and a long-time, highly skilled advocate for those experiencing hunger in Arizona.
As CEO of the Arizona Food Bank Network, Rodgers wrote letters and op-eds in the Arizona Republic. Among those op-eds is one from March 2021, where Rodgers called on DES, an agency she worked in before, to cut red tape interfering with older Arizonans from accessing SNAP benefits.
Earlier this month, she also spoke with 12News about the impact of free meals for Arizona students.
"Kids do better in school when they're fed, they miss less school when they are fed, schools provide more stability for kids, they get better meal quality at schools," Rodgers said.
In a statement, Rodgers said she's excited about the new role at DES.
"I am excited to be appointed to Governor-elect Hobbs' Cabinet as the Director of the Department of Economic Security focused on improving the outcomes for children, families and employees. Together, with the communities we serve, we will create an Arizona that works for all of us," Rodgers said in the statement.
Angie Rodgers - Department of Economic Security (DES)
For the past ten years, Angie Rodgers has been the President and CEO for the Arizona Food Bank Network (AzFBN). Rodgers brings more than 25 years’ experience in public policy research and advocacy focusing on human services. Prior to joining AzFBN, Rodgers served in various capacities for the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES), improving child and family welfare services through advocacy and policy initiatives, community-based partnerships, interagency coordination, allocation of federal resources and grant administration. Rodgers was also Governor Janet Napolitano’s Human Services Policy Advisor, where she was instrumental in development of high-level child and family welfare services policy and budget negotiation for nearly $750 million in state resources, as well as directing the state task force on the Earned Income Tax Credit. She earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work at Arizona State University and Bachelors’ Degrees in Criminology and Sociology from the University of Kansas. Angie has four amazing children and two sweet dogs.
Of her cabinet, Hobbs said, “These are some of the best minds Arizona has to offer, and I am proud that they have chosen to serve the people of Arizona by my side” said Governor-Elect Hobbs. “As a social worker, I know firsthand the importance of these crucial agencies to the lives of the people who need them. I am confident that this group of talented individuals has what it takes to transform our state’s health, social, and safety systems so that they work for everyone across Arizona.”
The DES is an agency that's never been more in demand in its history, than during the height of the pandemic. Issues that started years ago with the agency, still continue, and will be part of what Rodgers inherits.
Rodgers takes over the role from current DES Director Michael Wisehart.