Gov. Chris Gregoire on December 12, 2011 appointed Robin Arnold-Williams to be the Department of Social and Health Service’s new director, replacing departing director Susan Dreyfus. Arnold-Williams is a veteran of the agency, having led it for several years during Gregoire’s first term. Gregoire appointed Arnold-Williams to lead DSHS in March 2005. Notably, she reduced Child Protective Services’ response times for calls involving child safety. In Jan. 2008, she left the agency to lead Gregoire’s Executive Policy Office, where she worked until June 2010. Since leaving Gregoire’s policy office, she has been working as a consultant and teaching graduate courses at the University of Washington’s School of Social Work. Her appointment is effective January 3, 2012.