DCF Executive Team The Executive Team is appointed by Wisconsin's governor and has the day-to-day tasks of managing the Department of Children and Families, as well as determining our agency's future direction. Our Executive Team welcomes the opportunity to speak at conferences and meet with partners, stakeholders, and other interested parties across the state. To request a member of our Executive Team, please complete this form in its entirety. Acting Secretary Nadya Pérez-Reyes Nadya Pérez-Reyes was announced as acting secretary in September 2026, after serving as the Department of Children and Families (DCF) deputy secretary for two years. Pérez-Reyes has served in the Evers Administration since 2019.Prior to working at DCF, Nadya worked as an attorney with the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Juvenile and Mental Health Office, where she represented children in delinquency, waiver, children in need of protection or services (CHIPS), juvenile in need of protection or services (JIPS) proceedings and parents in termination of parental rights (TPR) cases. Nadya also worked in the State Public Defender’s Washington and Ozaukee County Trial offices, representing both adults and children. Before joining the Wisconsin State Public Defender, she worked at Legal Action of Wisconsin and the Government Accountability Board (now the State Elections Board). Nadya has a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, Spanish Language and Literature, and Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies; a Master of Arts in Latin American, Caribbean, and Iberian Studies with an emphasis on the African Diaspora; and a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Acting Deputy Secretary Jessica Justman Jessica (Jess) Justman was announced acting deputy secretary in September 2026, after serving as the Department of Children and Families assistant secretary for two years. Jess brings over 20 years of experience in state government as an executive leader and senior policy advisor at the departments of Public Instruction (DPI), Children and Families (DCF), Corrections (DOC) and Administration (DOA), as well as the Governor's Office and the Legislature. Deeply knowledgeable about state government and kids policy, Jess has served as a senior advisor to Gov. Evers, Gov. Doyle, former DCF Secretary Amundson, four consecutive state superintendents, and multiple other elected and appointed officials throughout her career. Jess has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, International Relations, and German from UW-Madison. She grew up in South Milwaukee and worked for then-State Senator Gwen Moore after college. These days, she spends her free time as a hockey mom to her three school-age children, and enjoys reading, travel, and strong coffee. She and her husband Drew live with their kids and dog on the west side of Madison.
