DJJ Director Heather Bowlds, Psy.D.

Dr. Heather Bowlds was appointed by Gov. Gavin Newsom as Director in October 2020. She had been serving as Chief Deputy Director and Acting Director since September 2019. From 2016-2019 she was deputy director of operations and programs at the Division of Juvenile Justice at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. She has served in several positions at the Division of Juvenile Justice since 2004, including associate director of mental health, sexual behavior treatment coordinator, senior psychologist and clinical psychologist. She was a psychological associate at the California Youth Authority from 2002 to 2004. Dr. Bowlds earned a Doctor of Psychology degree in forensic psychology from Alliant International University, California School of Professional Psychology.