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1994.01.27 : Appointment of Region VII Director 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                 Contact: Press Office
Thursday, Jan. 27, 1994                        (202) 690-6343
                                               Regional Office
                                               (816) 426-2821

     HHS Secretary Donna E. Shalala has announced the appointment
of Kathleen F. Steele of Kirksville, Mo., a three-term member of
the Missouri General Assembly, as regional director for Region VII
of the Department of Health and Human Services.

     As regional director, Steele, 33, is Secretary Shalala's
representative in coordinating the administration and
implementation of departmental policies through the four-state
region, including intergovernmental affairs at the state, county
and municipal levels.  She serves as a liaison with the public,
interest groups, governors, mayors and other local officials with
whom HHS deals.

     Region VII, with headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., serves the
states of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.

     Steele was elected to the Missouri 85th General Assembly in
1988 as 2nd District State Representative.  She was reelected in
1990 and 1992.  Her committee assignments included serving as
chairman, Joint Legislative Committee on Health Care Policy and
Planning; and chairman, Science, Technology and Critical Issues
Committee.

     During 1983-1986, Steele was an admissions official at
Northeast Missouri State University.  In 1986-1987, she was
programming coordinator for the university, working through the
Division of Public Services.

     Steele is a native of Kansas City, Mo.  She received her
bachelor's degree in business and public administration from
Northeast Missouri University in 1983.

     Between October 1991 and August 1992, she was Missouri state
director of the Clinton for President campaign.

     Along with her interest in politics, Steele has been active in
numerous health, education, insurance and volunteer efforts.  These
include: chairman, Missouri Office of Rural Health Advisory
Commission; the Council of State Governments Health Policy Task
Force; board member, Missouri Chapter, National Committee for
Prevention of Child Abuse; Northeast Missouri Home Health Agency
Professional Advisory Board Member; and member of the Missouri 
State Employees Retirement System Board of Trustees.

     Groups that have cited Steele for her work include the Mark
Twain Area Girl Scouts Association, the Missouri Chapter of the
American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Missouri
Hospital Association and the Missouri State Teachers Association.