Ann Silverberg Williamson, secretary of the Department of Social Services, has been serving in the post since January of 2004.

Her appointment by Governor Bobby Jindal marks the start of Williamson’s service with DSS over a third gubernatorial administration. She started in 2001 with her appointment as assistant secretary for the DSS Office of Family Support during Governor Mike Foster’s administration, followed by her appointment as DSS deputy secretary in 2003. In 2004, Governor Kathleen Babineaux Blanco appointed Williamson as Cabinet Secretary for the department.

Williamson also was instrumental post-Katrina in the creation of the Louisiana Family Recovery Corps, a public-private nonprofit organization to connect people with multiple services and better coordinate the work of different organizations providing human recovery programs and assistance.

As DSS deputy secretary, Williamson coordinated the department's response to the Select Council on Revenues and Expenditures (SECURE) Commission’s legislative reform proposals with the development of the DSS Strategic Action Plan for Reform. 

Of her re-appointment, Williamson said, "I expect that our disciplined and strategic focus on strengthening Louisiana through her citizenry will remain. We have reformed old ways of doing business both within DSS and in working with partner entities.

"And yet, the dynamics of Louisiana families today require us to look differently at how we craft solutions and invest our dollars to address child well-being, poverty, individual self-sufficiency, family strengthening and community prosperity. Our commitment is to work smarter to help families gain the tools to effectively and permanently overcome barriers to safety and self-reliance."

Throughout her professional career, Williamson has been committed to serving children and families in both the nonprofit and government sectors.

Prior to joining Gov. Foster’s staff, Williamson served as assistant director of the Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations (LANO) from 1998-2000. At LANO, she was responsible for strategic planning, program budgeting and implementing training programs for member agencies. In addition, she served as coordinator for Louisiana’s Promise, the statewide initiative supporting the America’s Promise program.

A Thibodaux native, Williamson first served in state government as special project coordinator for the Office of then-Lt. Gov. Kathleen Blanco in June 1997, where she planned, developed and organized the first Louisiana’s Promise "Summit for Youth" and coordinated community-based follow-up to constituents for the lieutenant governor.

Williamson earned a bachelor’s of arts in theology from Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C., and a master’s degree in social work from Louisiana State University. She was honored by both alma maters in 2003 for exceptional achievements, receiving the Distinguished Alumna Award from the LSU School of Social Work and the Outstanding Alumna Award from Wofford College.

In September 2004, the YWCA of Baton Rouge recognized Williamson as the organization’s "Young Woman of Achievement (35 and under)." Two months later, the Baton Rouge Business Report cited her as one of the 2004 "Top 40 Under 40" winners.