A Poplar Bluff native who began his career volunteering for political campaigns was named Thursday as director of the Missouri Department of Social Services.
Robert Knodell had served as acting director of DSS since October 2021.
His appointment as a full status director is effective as of Friday, according to a press release from Gov. Mike Parson’s office. Parson also announced Paula Nickelson as a full status director for the Department of Health and Human Services.
“We have greatly enjoyed having acting directors Knodell’s and Nickelson’s perspectives in our Cabinet and have been extremely impressed with their leadership at DSS and DHSS,” Parson said. “They have accomplished a lot for the state of Missouri. From improving customer service to helping bring an end to a pandemic, they work hard for the people of Missouri, and we’re excited to announce them as full status Directors. We have much left to accomplish for Missourians, but with both of them in our Cabinet and on our team, we know we can get it done.”
Since assuming leadership at DSS, Knodell has focused on improving workforce compensation, enhancing employee recruitment and retention strategies and reducing staff turnover rates, according to Parson. Working with Parson and the General Assembly, he has helped secure pay increases for all DSS team members and shift differential pay increases for evening and overnight congregate care staff.
Additionally, Knodell has successfully worked to accelerate new technology projects to replace and upgrade antiquated systems to more efficiently manage workloads and to better serve the more than 2 million Missourians who utilize DSS programs. He has also focused on improving customer service and stakeholder relationships with partners and advocates, the governor’s office reported.
Knodell is a native of Poplar Bluff who graduated from Twin Rivers High School. His father was a school superintendent and his mother a guidance counselor and administrator.
Knodell has known Parson since Parson was a new lawmaker. Knodell graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with an accounting degree, then began volunteering for political campaigns and eventually earned a job in the state House of Representatives, he has previously shared.
It was at that time that he first met Parson.
“I was a staff person working on budget issues for the House when he was a member of the House. We developed a working relationship and a relationship that has continued since that time,” Knodell has said previously. “When he became governor, he extended that opportunity to me at a time when the state needed leadership. I was honored to have the opportunity to join the administration, and we have been working hard every day since.”
Previously, Knodell was a member of Parson’s senior staff, serving as deputy chief of staff, a position he held from June 2018 to October 2021. Knodell also served briefly, from April 2021 to September 2021, as the acting director of DHSS to provide stability within the department until a permanent replacement could be found, the governor’s office said.
During his time in the governor’s office, officials say Knodell played a key role in implementing Parson’s policy priorities across all executive branch agencies. Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, he served as the governor’s office designee who oversaw much of the state’s response efforts and vaccine rollout.