DHS Head Stepping Down February 3

January 16, 2025

Jodi Harpstead, the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), will leave her position effective February 3, Gov. Tim Walz announced on January 13.  

Since her appointment in August 2019, Harpstead has overseen significant changes at DHS. Key among her accomplishments was supporting the enterprise-wide work to separate DHS into three distinct agencies, including the Department of Children, Youth, and Families as of July 1, 2024, and Direct Care and Treatment, which will become independent on July 1, 2025. Under her leadership, the State of Minnesota’s 2024 Medicaid renewals process achieved the goal of no disparities within the Black and overall American Indian communities for the first time, and an 80% auto-renewal rate, earning Minnesota the rank of eighth in the nation. 

Prior to her appointment, Harpstead was the president and CEO of Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (LSS), a position she had held since September 2011. She also was the executive vice president and chief operating officer for LSS and spent 23 years in a variety of positions with Medtronic, Inc. 

Harpstead has volunteered in leadership capacities for a variety of other organizations including Augsburg University, Lutheran Services in America and ARRM – the statewide association of community-based service providers for people with disabilities.