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Date: Jan. 28, 2026

Office of Developmental Disabilities Services director selected

To: Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) partners, community members and staff

From: Liesl Wendt, Director, Oregon Department of Human Services

Good morning,

I am pleased to share that Acacia McGuire Anderson (she/her) is the new director of the Office of Developmental Disabilities Services (ODDS). Her first day will be Feb. 18.

Thank you, Darlene O’Keeffe for serving as ODDS interim director. Thank you, managers and staff, who have stepped up the past few years. Thank you, community members, Tribes, partners and staff who participated in the selection process. Your feedback helped our search team to select Acacia.

We’re delighted Acacia is returning to ODHS. She has a vast knowledge of and deep passion for Oregon’s intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) community. Her lifelong work has been in disabilities services. She is devoted to working with individuals and families to provide person-centered, quality services.

Acacia began her career as a direct support professional in Montana. After graduating from Willamette University in Salem, she worked as a program manager in the Portland area. She managed I/DD employment and day-support programs. She then worked as a services coordinator in Multnomah County.

Acacia joined ODDS in 2013. She held many roles at ODDS, including diagnosis and evaluation coordinator, employment and eligibility manager, Employment First coordinator, and ODDS interim deputy director. She managed key projects, including the Impact Oregon rollout, the COVID-19 response and American Rescue Plan Act funding.

In 2023, Acacia wanted to learn more about local government and other social services. She became the health and housing integration manager at Clackamas County. She worked to build programs that help people who experience houselessness to access healthcare services and supports.

Acacia is excited to return to ODHS to lead our work to ensure individuals with I/DD thrive as valued members of their communities. She looks forward to building new relationships and reconnecting with self-advocates, families, staff and partners.

Thank you, again, to all who helped with the selection process. If you have questions about that process, email ODHS Executive Recruiter Surbhi Singh at surbhi.singh@odhs.oregon.gov. 

I look forward to working with ODDS staff, partners and the I/DD community to grow and improve our services and supports.

Sincerely,

Liesl Wendt
Director
Oregon Department of Human Services