Governor DeWine Nominates LeeAnne Cornyn to Serve as OhioMHAS Director

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has nominated LeeAnne Cornyn, his deputy chief of staff, to be the new director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services. 

Cornyn began working for Governor DeWine when he was Ohio Attorney General. At the beginning of the DeWine-Husted Administration, she served as his first director of Children’s Initiatives where she worked on a number of children’s behavioral health programs including the creation of OhioRISE which is a DeWine-Husted Administration initiative to keep kids with severe mental health issues in state and ensures that they receive coordinated care services under Medicaid.

Cornyn also served as director of Cabinet Affairs and most recently as deputy chief of staff, where she was charged with overseeing the health, mental health, human services, education, and children’s issues policy portfolio. Cornyn has worked tirelessly on behalf of Ohio’s most vulnerable populations -- children and those living with mental illness and substance use disorders.

Cornyn is a graduate of Miami University and holds a law degree from Ohio State University.  Cornyn replaces Lori Criss, who resigned effective December 1, 2023  to take a position at The Ohio State University. The Ohio Council would like to welcome Director Cornyn into her new role at OhioMHAS, and we are looking forward to working with her to help promote health and wellness for all Ohioans!