Roxane White is Hickenlooper's new chief of staff

Roxane White knows a little something about the power of prayer, having graduated with a degree in religious studies from Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon back in 1985 -- and she'll need all the faith she can get in her new job, as Mayor John Hickenlooper's new chief of staff. White, who previously served as manager in the Department of Human Services before taking an executive director position with the Timothy and Bernadette Marquez Foundation last year, replaces Kelly Brough, the recently named head of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce. She'll likely bring an increased emphasis on tackling the homelessness problem in the city, having focused on the issue in San Francisco before taking over as president of Urban Peak in Denver. Here's how the Hickenlooper administration describes White and characterizes the move:

Mayor Hickenlooper hires new chief of staff

DENVER, CO ­-- FRIDAY, SEPT. 11, 2009 -- Mayor John Hickenlooper announced today he will appoint Roxane White as his new Chief of Staff. White previously worked for the City as manager of the Department of Human Services. She will start Sept. 24.

"Roxane is a rare leader who has both the vision and the skills to get things done," Hickenlooper said. "Her passion to help people at all levels will help us keep building this great City."

White is now the executive director of the Timothy and Bernadette Marquez Foundation.

"I am delighted to return to work with Mayor Hickenlooper and the City team," White said. "Kelly Brough, Cole Finegan and Michael Bennet each set a high bar for the Chief of Staff and it is an honor to follow them. I want to keep their positive momentum going and build on the service City employees are providing to our community."

White will replace Kelly Brough, who was named last month as the new president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.

White, 45, was the first staff person for the Timothy and Bernadette Marquez Foundation, where she is responsible for developing strategic giving in the areas of health care, education and human services. White joined the foundation in April 2008.

As manager of Denver Department of Human Services between September 2003 and April 2008, White was responsible for 1,200 employees and more than $300 million in services and programs for the City and County of Denver. She is the former chair of Denver's Road Home, the City's 10-year plan to end homelessness, served on the state of Colorado Works Allocation Committee and Colorado State Child Welfare Allocation Committee. She also served on the board of the Denver Preschool Program.

She previously worked as president and CEO of Urban Peak, Urban Peak Colorado Springs, Urban Peak Housing Corporation and The Spot; as a consultant with not-for-profit agencies and executives focusing on skill development, fundraising and strategic planning; as executive director of Central Shelter Inc.; as executive director of Larkin Street Youth Center / Larkin Street Services; and as a training facilitator at The Institute for Multicultural Research and Social Work Practice at San Francisco State University.

White also teaches a human services class at Metropolitan State College of Denver, serves on the board of directors for Downtown Civic Ventures Inc., and is a member of A+ Denver.

Before moving to Denver in 1994, White spent eight years developing programs to serve the needs of homeless and runaway youth in San Francisco. White earned a bachelor's degree from Lewis and Clark College in Portland, Ore., and master's degrees in social work and divinity from San Francisco State University and San Francisco Theological Seminary. She has published a number of articles related to poverty and homelessness.

White was born and raised in Montana. She and her partner, Denis Murstein, are the proud parents of three children.