City of Bellingham hires pair to lead human resources department

On July 2, 2025, Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund appointed Deborah Danner as the city’s Human Resources director and Ameleah Sullivan as deputy director. Danner, previously the associate VP for human resources at Eastern Washington University, is set to lead the HR department, which oversees more than 1,000 city employees. Sullivan has served as the interim HR director for the past 10 months and will support Danner in this transition. This leadership change comes after the firing of the former HR director and the public works director in August 2024, a move Lund described as a strategic change in leadership. The HR department plays a key role in recruiting, developing, and retaining the city’s workforce, emphasizing the importance of public service.

Lund highlighted Danner's experience and people-centered approach as vital to the department's future. The city’s recent leadership appointments also include two directors for the public works department, reinforcing a trend of restructuring within Bellingham's administration. These changes aim to enhance organizational effectiveness and community engagement.