New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has appointed Emily Kaltenbach as cabinet secretary of the Aging and Long-Term Services Department.
In a news release announcing the appointment, Lujan Grisham touted Kaltenbach’s leadership in public policy, health care reform and advocacy. Lujan Grisham said Kaltenbach has a “strong track record of advancing services for older adults, individuals with disabilities, and communities across New Mexico.”
Kaltenbach will join the administration on Nov. 4. She was previously senior director of state advocacy for the Drug Policy Alliance, an organization that seeks to replace the crime-and-punishment model of drug policy with one based on health and harm reduction.
She has also held leadership positions at Aging and Long-Term Services and in the New Mexico Office of Health Care Reform, according to the release.
“We welcome Emily Kaltenbach back to the Aging and Long-Term Services Department,” Lujan Grisham said. “Her depth of experience in public health, aging services, and policy development will enable her to make an immediate impact as the department continues to improve the care and resources provided to New Mexico’s seniors and those with disabilities.”
The governor also said Kaltenbach’s leadership in health care reform and on social justice issues makes her uniquely qualified to lead the department as it navigates the challenges facing the state’s growing senior population.
Kaltenbach holds a master’s degree in health care administration from the University of Washington and has served on multiple boards dedicated to public health, cannabis regulation and community safety.
“I look forward to collaborating with stakeholders statewide to ensure all New Mexicans have access to the care and services they need to live with dignity and independence,” Kaltenbach said.