Former Mayor Donnalee Lozeau was recently chosen as the director of the Governor’s Office of New Opportunities and Rural Transformational Health. Courtesy photo

NASHUA – Gov. Kelly Ayotte recently announced her decision to appoint former Mayor Donnalee Lozeau as the director of the Governor’s Office of New Opportunities and Rural Transformational Health.

“It is an honor to be appointed by the governor to lead this important initiative,” said Lozeau. “I look forward to working with Gov. Ayotte, the Executive Council, the Department of Health and Human Services and health care providers to improve access to health care across rural New Hampshire. Working collaboratively, I am confident that we can achieve sustainable solutions, making our entire state an even healthier place to live.”

Known as GO-NORTH, the office was established in November 2025 to implement the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program. It is considered an independent agency within the DHHS.

“Donnalee Lozeau is a life-long public servant and a fierce advocate for our most vulnerable citizens,” said Ayotte. “I’m grateful she has agreed to take on this role and help expand access to affordable, high-quality health care in our rural communities through GO-NORTH. We’re ready to hit the ground running to deliver a healthier future for all of New Hampshire.”

Going into 2026, the state received more than $204 million in federal funds to expand health care coverage to rural communities. No other state in New England received that much money to expand its health care system.

“We are excited to have Donnalee Lozeau join the Rural Health Transformation effort leading the GO-NORTH office,” said DHHS Commissioner Lori Weaver. “Donnalee’s vast experience in serving people and communities is a tremendous asset to implementing our bold plan to make health care more affordable and accessible for Granite Staters living in rural areas.”

A third generation Nashuan, Lozeau got her start in public service in 1984 when she began her 16-year tenure representing Ward 5 in the state House of Representatives. During that time, she served two terms as deputy speaker.

As mayor of the Gate City, from 2007 to 2015, Lozeau oversaw the passage of eight budgets and negotiated the $200 million purchase of Pennichuck Water Works in 2012. She also directed the completion of Broad Street Parkway and the downtown redevelopment.

Lozeau will take the helm of GO-NORTH after retiring from her current position as CEO of the Community Action Partnership Hillsborough and Rockingham Counties.

As the steward of more than 60 Community Action programs, she guided the agency through the COVID-19 pandemic and the Emergency Rental Assistance Programs. She also established the Nurse Education and Practice Collaborative in response to the state’s nursing shortage.

In addition to being a founding member of the Greater Nashua Dental Connection, Lozeau has served on the boards of directors of numerous companies including St. Joseph Hospital, St. Mary’s Bank, the Community College System of New Hampshire and New Hampshire Healthy Families. On the state level, she is chairwoman of the Governor’s Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery Stakeholders Advisory Board and co-chairwoman of the HB4 Cliff Effect Working Group. She was also called upon to serve on the Governor’s Judicial Selection Commission and the State Workforce Innovation Board.