Mike Smith, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services, announced that Emily J. Hawes has been appointed by Governor Phil Scott to be Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health beginning July 4th. Ms. Hawes will assume the responsibility for day-to-day operations and management of DMH in place of Commissioner Sarah Squirrell who is moving out of state with her family. Ms.

The ACLU of Vermont is announcing six new staff positions in its legal, advocacy, and communications programs, including four new hires as well as the promotion of the organization’s two Senior Staff Attorneys, Lia Ernst and Jay Diaz, to the roles of Legal Director and General Counsel, respectively. The recent staff expansion is backed by a 70% increase in Vermont-based supporters over the past year, and will bring the number of full-time ACLU of Vermont staff to thirteen people, up from five in 2017.