On November 29, 2007, Governor Jon S. Corzine nominated Heather Howard to be the 14th Commissioner of the Department of Health and Senior Services. She was confirmed as Commissioner by the Senate on January 8, 2008.

As Health and Senior Services Commissioner, Howard has been a strong advocate for maternal and child health, with a particular focus on prenatal care. Shortly after becoming Commissioner, she appointed a task force to examine ways to improve the delivery of prenatal care in New Jersey. One key finding was the need to raise public awareness about the importance of early prenatal care, and of women maintaining their health before, during and between pregnancies. The Commissioner has traveled the state speaking on these issues, and collaborates with the provider community to improve birth outcomes.

Commissioner Howard, who is an attorney, has also worked to strengthen the state’s hospital system and to improve quality of care. She has expanded health care access by expanding New Jersey’s network of community health centers that serve the uninsured and underserved.

She has received a number of awards for her leadership and advocacy, including the F.D.R Visionary Award from the March of Dimes New Jersey Chapter. She has been honored for health advocacy for women by the New Jersey Primary Care Association, and honored by New Jersey Citizen Action at its annual awards ceremony.

Commissioner Howard came to the post with 15 years of policy experience at the state and federal levels. She served as Governor’s Corzine’s Policy Counsel, advising on all policy issues – including NJ FamilyCare, the state’s health insurance program for low-income children and families -- and directing the policy staff.

From 2001 to 2006, Howard worked in Washington, D.C., for then-Senator Corzine. She served as Legislative Counsel, Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy and Planning, and finally as Chief of Staff. Howard advised the Senator on policy development, legislative strategy, constituent services, communications and personnel.

Before joining the Corzine staff, Howard worked in the White House where she served as Associate Director of President Bill Clinton’s Domestic Policy Council, and Senior Policy Adviser to First Lady Hillary Clinton.

Howard earned her J.D. cum laude from New York University School of Law. She served a judicial clerkship with Judge Martha Craig Daughtrey of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Howard was then accepted into the U.S. Department of Justice’s Honors Program, where she worked as a trial attorney in the Antitrust Division’s Health Care Task Force.

From 1990 to 1994, she was legislative assistant and policy adviser to Congresswoman Nita Lowey of New York.

Howard earned a B.A. cum laude in History and Spanish from Duke University. She lives in Princeton with her husband and son.

Ms. Howard was sworn in as an ex officio member of the Board on February 19, 2008. Her board term coincides with her tenure as Commissioner of Health and Senior Services.