Jersey City Mayor James Solomon has named Linda Ivory-Green as the director of the city’s Department of Health and Human Services after being the acting director for nearly three months.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Linda has spent more than 30 years showing up for the people of Jersey City, and that kind of dedication is built on genuine love for this community,” Solomon said in a statement.
“Her deep roots in this city, her commitment to health equity, and her proven leadership make her exactly the right person to lead our Department of Health and Human Services. I am proud to make this appointment permanent and to build a healthier, more equitable Jersey City alongside her.”
Her career with the city spans roles including health educator, AIDS coordinator, certified social worker, FDA tobacco inspector, and Division Director of Community Health & Wellness — a position she has held since the division’s founding in 2016.
“Jersey City is my home, and serving its residents has been the honor of my life. Health is not a privilege, it is a right, and my life’s work has been ensuring that every resident in every neighborhood in this city has access to the care, resources, and dignity they deserve,” Ivory-Green added.
“I am grateful to Mayor Solomon for this opportunity, and I am committed to continuing to build public health systems that leave no one behind.”
A nationally recognized public health leader, Ivory-Green was selected in 2018 as one of 40 leaders across the country to participate in The Kresge Foundation’s Emerging Leaders in Public Health program.
There she earned a certificate in Public Health Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
She has also presented at the American Public Health Association’s Annual Conference, where she showcased Jersey City’s innovative “Ward-Based Health Education” model — a program centered on advancing health equity at the neighborhood level.
Ivory-Green holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Science in Health Administration, both from New Jersey City University (NJCU).
At their most recent meeting last month, the City Council reappointed Department of Housing, Economic Development, and Commerce (HEDC) Director Annisia Cialone, hired Andrew Kaplan as the new Department of Infrastructure director, and made Anthony Ambrose the public safety director, removing his acting title.
