CONCORD - Gov. John Lynch announced today he will bring forward the nomination of Mary Ann Cooney of Manchester to serve as deputy commissioner of the Department of Health and Human Services. Health and Human Services Commissioner Nicholas Toumpas made the nomination, which Gov. Lynch will bring forward to the Executive Council at its meeting next week. The Executive Council must approve the nomination.

Cooney has been the director of the department’s Division of Public Health since 2003.

“Mary Ann Cooney is a well-respected leader and consensus builder, with a strong understanding of health policy. Her extensive public health background and focus on prevention and wellness will be a tremendous benefit to the department,” Gov. Lynch said.

Prior to joining HHS, Cooney was the supervisor of school health for the Manchester Health Department, overseeing the school health program for 29 city schools. A registered nurse, Cooney has served as a school nurse in the Manchester school system, and as a staff nurse at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston and Catholic Medical Center in Manchester.

“Mary Ann is a proven leader and her public health expertise will reinforce the importance of prevention, early intervention and wellness across the department’s services,” Toumpas said.

She received her nursing degree from Saint Anselm College, and a master’s of nursing administration and a master’s of public health from the University of New Hampshire.