Ursel J. McElroy

I accepted the appointment in January 2019.

It was pretty exciting and natural.

Prior to my current role, I served as deputy director within the Ohio Attorney General's office for a decade with our current governor.

Prior to joining the Attorney General's office, I also had an opportunity to work in direct service with many older adults and their families.

And so this was a natural transition in my career.

And what an exciting time to actually assume the helm of the Ohio Department of Aging.

I make it a point to really understand who I want to be on this earth, what I want to contribute, and how I can help others.

But it is the motivation, I would say, to help people to be their best selves that fuels me and my approach.

I've been afforded so many opportunities, considering what many would be surprised by a pretty modest upbringing.

I approach each day without taking anything for granted.

And since I've been a young person, I've always been in this constant pursuit of more.

How can we do more, more for ourselves, more for others, more to make things better?

And that is the approach I use as a leader as well with my staff, with the people I have an opportunity to work with.

I don't take the opportunities that I'm given for granted.

I use each and every moment to try to make the change.

I have throughout my career had the privilege to work with incredible people.

My background for many years has been serving victims of crime, whether it was child abuse, sexual abuse, elder abuse, sadly, helping families who've had to deal with the loss due to a homicide.

And what you learn in working with people who have experienced things that are unimaginable to most of us is that their resilience,

and their desire to continue and to make things better, not just for their families, but those that come behind them is incredible.

And so I don't believe that I have the luxury to do anything less than to operate with intention, with a sense of urgency, with constant purpose.