The Oregon Health Authority director, Dr. Sejal Hathi, is on parental leave. That’s why Kristine Kautz was acting OHA director and appointed Dave Baden as acting superintendent at Oregon State Hospital. Kautz is the OHA deputy director for administration. Baden, who served a stint as OHA interim director, is the agency’s deputy director of policy and programs.

At the state hospital, Baden replaces Interim Superintendent Dr. Sara Walker, who abruptly resigned Friday night after a year in that role. She also was chief medical officer. Gov. Tina Kotek announced the changes in a press release at 8:58 p.m. April 11.

Kotek on Thursday ousted Jessica Kampfe as executive director of the Oregon Public Defense Commission and appointed Ken Sanchagrin as interim executive director. Since 2020, Sanchagrin has been executive director of the Criminal Justice Commission. Deputy Director Ryan Keck will step up to serve as interim head of the CJC.

Katherine O. “K.O.” Berger will be the first youth and family advocate for the Oregon Youth Authority. She starts work May 1. Berger, who spent 15 years with the Juvenile Rights Project, is resource counsel for the Oregon Public Defense Commission. In a statement announcing her appointment, OYA said: “The Youth and Family Advocate position is designed to be independent and will be housed for at least the next year outside of the agency. The goal of the role is simple, but significant: help young people and their loved ones navigate OYA, raise concerns, and understand their rights and options.”

A veteran corrections administrator from Washington state will take over June 23 as superintendent at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility in Wilsonville. During her 27-year career, Charlotte Thrasher has worked in community corrections, prisons and state headquarters. She most recently was superintendent of the Washington Corrections Center for Women.

The Secretary of State’s Office hired And Burke Jones as automatic voter registration policy specialist. They have been working in elections since 2013, starting at Marion County. They served as elections manager for Clackamas County during 2017-2020 and on an interim basis in 2023.

Mary Moller will leave the Department of Administrative Services to become executive director of the Oregon Council of Presidents on July 14. The council comprises the presidents of the state’s eight public universities. Moller is DAS’ chief of strategic initiatives and enterprise. She previously was deputy director, Department of Consumer and Business Services; executive appointments director, Office of Gov. Kate Brown; director of local and federal government relations, Portland State University; aide to Congressman David Wu; and legislative director, U.S. Student Association.

Alyssa Rash is the Department of State Lands’ communications director while Ali Ryan Hansen serves as special projects adviser. Rash is on a job rotation from the Oregon Water Resources Department.

Amy Williams began work this week as executive residence director, a new position in state government. Mahonia Hall in Salem is the state-owned residence of Gov. Kotek and first lady Aimee Kotek Wilson.

Kotek appointed Michael Dill, director of advocacy and sustainability at Organically Grown Company, to a four-year term on the State Board of Agriculture.