Brittanie Earle has been appointed as Tompkins County Commissioner of Social Services at Tuesday’s Tompkins County Legislature meeting, with her term set to begin July 21.
County legislators approved Earle’s appointment unanimously. She will take over for Kit Kephart, who earlier this year announced her pending departure from the department she led for eight years.
Tompkins County’s Department of Social Services supports individuals and families through a range of benefits and assistance programs, largely mandated by state and federal policies. These core services are occasionally expanded through grants or locally funded initiatives.
According to the press release, Earle brings a robust portfolio of over 15 years of public service experience, including work in residential foster care, the juvenile justice system, youth development, municipal government and emergency crisis response. Earle has shown a strong dedication to equity, public health, and community-centered care — values that align closely with Tompkins County’s mission and informed her appointment.
With experience working with Ithaca Youth Bureau, the state’s Office of Children and Family Services and Oswego County Opportunities, Earle played key roles in leading youth services, managing residential care programs and implementing trauma-informed care practices, according to the announcement of her appointment
Earle served as interim director of the Community Response Team at Cornell, guiding the creation and management of a trauma-informed, equitable, non-police crisis intervention framework. She collaborated with law enforcement, emergency services and university departments to deliver a unified, trauma-informed and equitable crisis response.
According to the press release, Earle expressed enthusiasm about her appointment as the next Commissioner of Social Services in Tompkins County, emphasizing the vital role of dedicated staff and committed community partners she will work alongside.
“It is a privilege to join a department with such dedicated staff and committed community partners working every day to make a meaningful difference,” Earle said. “I look forward to building on the strong foundation already in place and advancing initiatives that center equity, safety, and dignity in service delivery.”
Earle additionally addressed the legislature after her appointment was approved. She spoke about “new challenges” facing the delivery of social services, largely in the form of cuts to federal aid programs like SNAP, among others.
“I see this moment not just as a test, but as an opportunity to strengthen our local Department of Social Services,” Earle said. “I’m committed to leading with transparency, empathy and action. That means listening to the people we serve, working hand-in-hand with our community partners, and building strong channels of communication with all of you in this room.”
County Administrator Korsah Akumfi expressed enthusiasm about Earle’s appointment, noting that her comprehensive understanding of public systems equips her with the skills to find effective solutions as she navigates the nuances of local government.
At Tuesday’s meeting, legislature Chair Dan Klein commended Kephart on her work as director.
“I’ve always found Kit to be an extremely kind and patient person — those are the words that always pop in my head when I’m in her presence,” Klein said. “Being in her presence has always made me aspire to be more kind and patient.”
Matt Butler contributed reporting.
Cereese Qusba is a reporter at The Ithaca Voice and a news editor at The Cornell Daily Sun working on The Sun’s summer fellowship. This article was originally published in The Ithaca Voice.
Cereese Qusba is a member of the Class of 2027 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a news editor for the 143rd Editorial Board. She can be reached at cqusba@cornellsun.com.
