Maryland Department of Human Services Leadership

MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Stacy L. Rodgers, Acting Secretary

Coming Soon

Gloria Brown Burnett, Deputy Secretary of Operations

Gloria Brown Burnett previously served as Interim Secretary and returns to her role as Deputy Secretary of Operations, where she oversees our Administrative Operations, Procurement Division, and Office of Technology for Human Services (OTHS). A collaborative innovator, Gloria excels at removing barriers and leveraging resources and non-traditional partnerships to expand services. During her tenure in Prince George’s County, Gloria secured $2.3 million annually for intensive case management programs serving middle school students and achieved improved outcomes for youth exiting out-of-home care. She also collaborated with community partners to implement the Affordable Care Act, serving over 200,000 residents through the Maryland Health Benefits Exchange, reducing the county’s uninsured population to historic lows.

With over 30 years of experience in human services and child welfare leadership, Gloria joined us after a 14-year tenure as Director of the Prince George’s County Department of Social Services, where she managed 600 employees across 15 sites, serving 900,000 Prince Georgians. 

Born in Mount Clemens, Michigan, Gloria holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Fisk University, a Master of Science in Organizational Management from the University of Maryland University College, and an Executive Education Certificate from Harvard’s Kennedy School. She is a 2011 graduate of Leadership Greater Washington.

Daniel Wait, Deputy Secretary for Talent and Customer Service

Daniel has served at DHS since 2009. He most recently led as Deputy Secretary of Operations and prior to that, Director of Human Resources Training & Development (HRDT). His portfolio encompasses multiple facets of managerial oversight ranging from HRDT, the DHS Learning Office, Constituent Services, and Department-wide oversight of the customer service experience. Daniel earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the State University of New York at Albany.

Heather Zenone, Assistant Secretary for Policy

Heather Zenone brings more than 20 years of national, state, and tribal experience leading efforts to advance reforms in child well-being, juvenile justice, anti-trafficking, migrant child and family welfare, behavioral health, and Medicaid. She served in the Indian Child Welfare Program of Casey Family Programs on special assignment as a Senior Advisor to the Commissioner of the Administration for Native Americans in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; and as Senior Advisor to Rep. Karen Bass in the U.S. House of Representatives leading child welfare legislation for systemic transformation. A champion of equity, diversity, and inclusion, Heather aged out of foster care and is a graduate of the University of California Berkeley and the University of California Berkeley School of Law. 

As Assistant Secretary for Policy & Data, Heather guides the vision and strategy for the Department’s policy at the direction of the Secretary. She leads a team that includes policy, government affairs, and data science taking a holistic approach to achieving the Department’s goals. The team works collaboratively with the operational and programmatic units of the Department to identify the best ways to achieve better results for Marylanders using a combination of legislation, regulation, policy research, and data analysis.

Larry Handerhan, Assistant Secretary for Programs

Larry leads the agency’s H.R.1 implementation, coordinates audit resolution initiatives, and manages statewide practice reforms.

Larry joins us from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), where he served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management at the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), helping lead strategy and operations for the nation’s $75 billion human services agency. Larry previously served as Chief of Staff for ACF, where he led special projects across policy and operations, including work to improve Tribal programs and support LGBTQ communities.  

Prior to his HHS service, Larry served as Chief of Staff for the D.C. Department of Human Services, where he supported system transformation work to end homelessness and improve public benefit access. Previously, Larry served as a Senior Advisor and Special Assistant at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), where he led operational excellence initiatives to deliver world-class customer service.

Larry earned a Bachelor of Arts from Bates College and a Master of Public Affairs from Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs.

Webster Ye, Chief of Staff

Webster Ye most recently served as Assistant Secretary for Health Policy at the Maryland Department of Health, where he developed and led health policy across 40 departmental units for federal, state, and local legislative and governmental affairs. Webster has extensive experience managing a myriad of public health services and leading organizations in a way that reflects the urgency and responsiveness we will model. Webster holds a Juris Doctorate from George Mason University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from St. John’s College.

Scheduling Requests for the Secretary of the Department of Human Services

The Department of Human Services Office of the Secretary and the DHS Executive Leadership Team values community engagement and strives to accommodate requests to meet or attend events in support of new and established partners, service providers and businesses across the state.

Please complete this form to request the DHS Secretary or a member of the department’s executive leadership team attend your upcoming event or meeting. A member of the Secretary’s office will review your request and contact you within 2 business days. Submitting a request does not guarantee that it will be fulfilled.