Town of Brookline Appoints Emily Williams as New Council on Aging Director

BROOKLINE — Town Administrator Chas Carey is pleased to announce that the Town of Brookline has appointed Emily Williams as the new Director of the Brookline Council on Aging and Senior Center.

Following a comprehensive search and selection process, Williams emerged as the ideal candidate from a pool of 40 applicants.

Williams brings more than 20 years of experience in senior services to her new role. She currently serves as the Executive Director of the Town of Bridgewater’s Department of Elder Affairs and has held multiple leadership positions in other communities.

Williams holds a Master of Science in Gerontology from UMass Boston and a Bachelor of Science in Health Administration from the University of North Florida.

“Emily Williams is an excellent person to take the reins after the 40 years that Ruthann Dobek has been at the helm,” said Select Board Chair Bernard Greene. “I’m particularly interested in the perspective she can bring with her background in gerontology.”

Select Board Member John VanScoyoc, liaison to the Council on Aging, added, “At the COA meeting last week where Emily was approved by that Board, there was a shared sentiment that we found the right person to step up to the challenge of being Ruthann’s successor, and to be that right person is saying a lot.”

The selection process included a diverse panel of community members, Council on Aging representatives, and town officials, who provided valuable feedback to the Town Administrator. The panel included:

• Richard Benka, Member, Brookline Committee on Town Organization & Structure; former member of the Select Board
• Susan Granoff, Chair, Advisory Committee Human Services Sub-Committee
• Bernard Greene, Chair, Select Board
• Patricia Maher, NP, Co-President, Brookline Friends of Public Health
• Betsy Pollock, LICSW, President, Senior Center Board of Directors; Member, Senior Center Foundation
• Yolanda Rodriguez, Chair, Council on Aging
• Ruth Seidman, Co-Chair, BrooklineCAN

“Ms. Williams was the ideal candidate for the position. Her presentational skills highlighted not just her acumen as a department head but her ability to center and highlight the accomplishments of the senior community while advocating for their needs,” said Town Administrator Carey. “She engaged at a deep and thoughtful level with the many difficult questions the panel asked her. She had great familiarity with best practices, emerging trends, and budgeting issues that face municipal senior services across Massachusetts.”

Williams expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Town Administrator Carey, the interview panel, and longtime colleague Ruthann Dobek for their support.

“I am honored to step into this role and build upon Ruthann Dobek’s incredible legacy,” said Williams. “I look forward to serving Brookline’s older adults, caregivers, and, in particular, the field of social work, ensuring a bright future for our community.”

Williams will assume her new role on March 24. 

###