Melissa Schierland has been named director of the Mesa County Department of Human Services Economic Assistance Division.

Schierland and Susan Skyberg served as interim co-directors since October.

Schierland joined the Mesa County Department of Human Services in 2010 as a case manager with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. She served eight years as supervisor of the child care assistance program. Before joining the department, she worked 17 years as a funeral director.

Schierland said she’s assembled a process improvement team to focus on customer service even as employees receive cross training to better process applications for various programs and services. She said she’s also intent on improving the workplace climate and culture.

“I look forward to working with the division to improve processes and better serve our community,” she said. “It is my mission as a leader to serve the people of Mesa County and to connect them with the programs and resources they need to be stable and successful.”

For additional information about the division, log on

www.humanservices.mesacounty.us/assistance-programs.