MARSHALL — A new director has been chosen for Southwest Health and Human Services, county officials said. During Tuesday’s meeting of the Lyon County Board, County Commissioner and SWHHS Board member Rick Anderson announced that Beth Wilms, the current director of community services in Winona County, was selected for the position.

“We think we’ve brought in someone who will be a great addition to Southwest Health and Human Services,” Anderson said at the commissioner meeting.

Wilms will officially start work July 17, Anderson said.

Wilms has around 17 years of experience working in leadership roles, Anderson said Wednesday. She became Winona County community services director in 2012.

Anderson said the process of interviewing and hiring a new health and human services director was an intense process, lasting around two months. SWHHS provides public health and social services for residents in Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Pipestone, Redwood and Rock counties. Anderson said members of the SWHHS Board, county commissioners and administrators from the agency’s 6-county service area, public health committee members, and SWHHS staff members were all involved in the interview process. Wilms was one of three finalist candidates interviewed, out of a pool of 55 applicants for the position.

A mix of both internal and external candidates were interviewed for the SWHHS director position, Anderson said.

Previous SWHHS Director Chris Sorensen resigned earlier this spring to take a position as director of community services for Washington County.