Oneida County appoints Thompson as new mental-health commissioner

UTICA, N.Y. — Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente, Jr. announced Thursday that he has appointed Ashlee Thompson as the county’s new commissioner of mental health.

Thompson formally assumed the position on Monday. Michael Romano, Oneida County deputy commissioner of family and community services, had been temporarily overseeing the Mental Health Department since former commissioner, Robin O’Brien retired in June.

Thompson joins Oneida County government after serving as Rome Memorial Hospital’s director of outpatient behavioral-health services.

She began her professional career in 2006 as a chemical-dependency counselor at Insight House in Utica. Four years later, Thompson moved on to Rome Memorial Hospital, where she served as chemical-dependency counselor and supervisor for five years, before being elevated to director of outpatient behavioral health services.

“For the past 14 years, Ashlee Thompson has been making a huge impact on this community in terms of direct clinical care, the treatment of chemical dependency and the provision of behavioral health services,” Picente said in a statement. “I believe that her administrative experience and strong leadership will be an asset to Oneida County government and I am confident she will take our Mental Health Department in a new and positive direction.”

Thompson received a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) degree from Utica College in 2019 and possesses dual master’s degrees in education and special education from Touro College, as well as a bachelor’s degree in history from Le Moyne College.