Denise Andrade, MPA

Deputy Director, Community Health Division, Imperial County Public Health Department

County: Imperial

Denise Andrade obtained a Master’s degree in Public Administration with an Emphasis in Government and Policy from Grand Canyon University and a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and Education from the University of California, Davis. She has worked as a public servant for the last 18 years working in local government, sixteen of which have been in Imperial County with experience in Public Health and Social Services, and two with City of Indio. Through her experience in local government, Ms. Andrade has managed diverse programs/efforts, including HIV/AIDS, Immunizations, Emergency Preparedness, Health Promotion, COVID Response, Accountable Communities for Health (ACH), Community Health Assessment/ Improvement Plan (CHA/CHIP), Equity Coalition Representative, Asthma, Pandemic Influenza, Public Health Accreditation (PHAB), EBT Issuance, Senior Center Services, and other Administrative functions such as Accounting, Procurement, and Personnel.

Ms. Andrade was born and raised in Imperial County in a Spanish speaking home with parents with limited education and limited knowledge of the medical system. Although she left her community to pursue her education, she always knew returning to where she was born and raised was a must. Her passion is to mentor those around her to succeed in a community with known limited resources. Similarly, Ms. Andrade continues volunteering her time as a community representative in efforts focused on health, primarily those that support research and efforts that enhance health literacy and health accessibility within Imperial County. As a mother of three children, she is devoted to ensuring that her community continues working on seeking opportunities that enhance the future of Imperial County and create a better path for the Spanish speaking population, the youth and the elderly.