Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) executive director Jeffrey Cartmell is Governor Kevin Stitt’s choice to serve as the next director of the Department of Human Services (DHS). Cartmell will replace Dr. Deborah Shropshire, who recently resigned.
“Jeffrey goes above and beyond to help Oklahomans – that’s who he is. The Office of Juvenile Affairs flourished under his leadership, and I’m confident he will bring the same level of excellence to Human Services. He is a passionate advocate for vulnerable Oklahomans, and I’m excited to see how he continues to work towards our goal of being Top Ten in everything we do,” said Stitt.
Cartmell is well known around the Capitol. Before his appointment as OJA executive director, he served as counselor to then Secretary of State Brian Bingman. He served as a deputy general counsel to the governor for two years. He’s also worked within Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES), the private sector, and Governor Mary Fallin’s administration.
“It’s an honor to continue to serve the State of Oklahoma under Governor Stitt’s leadership. The Department of Human Service serves hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans every day, many of them facing some of the most challenging and vulnerable circumstances. I’m eager to continue building on the momentum at DHS and investing in programs and resources that support the Governor’s top ten vision,” Cartmell said.
Cartmell’s appointment will need to be confirmed by the Senate. He’ll begin work at DHS on September 16, 2024.
OMES interim director Katie DeMuth will join Cartmell’s executive team at DHS.
