Haslam tabs O'Day to lead Children's Services Department

Gov.-elect Bill Haslam filled another cabinet position Thursday, announcing Kathryn “Kate” O’Day as his commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services.

O’Day will replace Viola Miller.

Formerly a youth counselor with the Broward County Sheriff’s Office in Florida, O'Day most recently served as president and CEO of Child & Family Tennessee. She has also served as vice president of program development and evaluation for Children’s Home Society of Florida and director of program services for Covenant House of Florida.

O’Day is a graduate of Leadership Knoxville, a co-chair of the Community Coalition for Domestic Violence in Knoxville, founding Chair of the Juvenile Court Assistance Board in Knox County, a former panel chair for the Foster Care Review Board in Knox County and a member of the Executive Women’s Association.

She has a master of social work degree from Florida International University.