Diann Dawson serves as the Director, Office of Regional Operations in the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. As a senior level director and principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary, she provides leadership and direction to the field/regional operations for ACF Programs. These programs, administered through ACF's ten regional offices, include: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Child Care, Child Support Enforcement, Head Start, Community Services, Developmental Disabilities and Child Welfare Services, including Foster Care, Safe and Stable Families, Child Abuse, Neglect and Adoption Assistance and Runaway/Homeless Youth.

Ms. Dawson, a member of the Senior Executive Service, has extensive experience in executive leadership and program management at both the Federal and State levels in the public welfare field. Prior to joining the Federal government, she was employed with the South Carolina Department of Social Services.

Ms. Dawson received her J.D. degree from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia and Maryland. She holds a M.S.W. (Master of Social Work) degree with a concentration in community organization and social planning from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a B.A. from Bennett College, Greensboro, North Carolina.