ATLANTA – Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) Commissioner Kevin Tanner recently announced promotions and appointments within DBHDD’s senior leadership team. Commissioner Tanner has promoted Monica Patel to the position of Assistant Commissioner of Agency Affairs and Chief Legal Officer. Allen Morgan and Jennifer Dunn have been appointed to the newly created positions of Deputy Assistant Commissioners for Field Operations. 

“I congratulate Monica Patel as she assumes this important leadership position overseeing the Office of General Counsel, Communications, and Legislative Affairs,” said DBHDD Commissioner Kevin Tanner. He also thanked former Assistant Commissioner Ashley Fielding who recently accepted a leadership role at Piedmont Healthcare.

Monica Patel is a distinguished legal professional with almost a decade-long tenure with DBHDD. Before becoming Assistant Commissioner, she served as Director of Legal Services. Her experience and leadership have been instrumental in shaping the department’s strategic direction. Patel is a graduate of the University of Michigan.

Commissioner Tanner also announced the creation of two new leadership roles within the department.

“I believe it is important that our leadership structure be responsive to the needs of our field staff through local-level decision-making,” said Commissioner Tanner. “That’s why we have created two Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Field Operations positions, and I am delighted to have experienced and respected professionals like Allen Morgan and Jennifer Dunn in these new roles.”

Allen Morgan will lead operations in the northern half of the state – DBHDD Regions 1, 2, and 3. Jennifer Dunn will lead operations in the southern half of the state – DBHDD Regions 4, 5, and 6. Morgan and Dunn will focus their energies on day-to-day operations while state office leadership staff will focus on agency policies and procedures. 

Allen Morgan previously served as the Director of Field Operations for the Developmental and Intellectual Disabilities Division at DBHDD. Jennifer Dunn returns to DBHDD from the University of Georgia where she served as the Rural Health Agent. She previously served as a Regional Services Administrator at DBHDD.