Karin McGowan

Karin McGowan serves as the department's director of Community Relations. From 2009 until July 2011, she was director of Policy/External Affairs and Planning at the department.

McGowan served as director of policy development and communications at the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) where she was responsible for, among other things, DRCOG’s legislative agenda and programs including state and federal policy initiatives. She served as assistant director for external affairs with Great Outdoors Colorado and in various policy and legislative capacities under Gov. Roy Romer from 1996-98. She has extensive communications experience.

As director of Community Relations, McGowan is responsible for the department’s internal/external communications; legislative affairs; the Office of Health Disparities; and the Office of Planning and Partnerships, which serves as the operational link between the state health department and local public health agencies. She has been with the department two years.