Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Cindy Gillespie has tapped Mark White to step in and serve as the agency’s next Chief of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs starting in October, DHS announced Monday.
White, 46, replaces Kelley Linck, who is leaving to work in the private sector. Linck became the first chief of legislative and intergovernmental affairs for DHS in June of 2016 – a position created to ensure legislators and other elected officials had a point of contact and someone who can quickly provide them with information needed for them to make decisions. Linck also oversaw the DHS constituent services and rules offices and served as Gillespie’s chief of staff. White will retain those roles.
“Because of his current and previous leadership roles at DHS, Mark will be able to hit the ground running, especially as it relates to complicated Medicaid programs,” Gillespie said. “He is incredibly smart, knows DHS well, and knows exactly who to call and what to do when legislators need help. With Mark taking on this role, legislators can rest assured their concerns will be addressed, and they will be informed about what’s happening at DHS.”
White has more than 15 years of experience in State government, several as a senior executive. He was named DHS chief counsel in March of 2013 and was promoted to one of two deputy director positions at DHS in 2015. As Deputy Director, he oversaw over half of the department, including all the Medicaid, health, and community programs. He left DHS in September of 2016 to serve as the director of legal services for the nonprofit Arkansas Public School Resource Center. White re-joined DHS in February of 2018 to serve as the deputy director of the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Health Services (DAABHS).
“I am excited and humbled by this opportunity to serve as the go-to person for Legislators for DHS because I know how important that role is,” White said. “I appreciate the path Kelley has created for me, and I’m ready to get to work.”