State aging secretary will be guest at dinner
Pamela Johnson-Betts, secretary of the Kansas Department on Aging, will be a special guest Oct. 20 at the annual meeting of Senior Citizens of Marion County, Inc.
Registration for the meeting is at 11 a.m., followed with a noon meal, and a program at 1 p.m.
Advanced reservations are required by contacting one of 11 senior centers in Marion County or the department for elderly at (620) 382-3580.
Johnson-Betts was appointed in 2003, by Governor Kathleen Sebelius as secretary of the department.
She is a licensed specialist clinical social worker and certified public manager.
She completed her under-graduate work at Washburn University, Topeka, and received a master's degree from the University of Kansas.
Previous government experiences include executive director of the Kansas African-American Affairs Commission, director of the office of government and community relations with the Kansas Department of Health & Environment, and resource development specialist for the department of social and rehabilitation services.
In addition, she served for several years with the Topeka public school system as director a district program, adjunct instructor at Washburn University, and comptroller for the Kansas Division of Southwestern Bell.
Johnson-Betts has received numerous awards and citations for her support of community and state programs.
She is married to Topeka attorney Wendell Betts and they have three sons.
