Theresa C. Arriola

Theresa C. Arriola is the Director of the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), confirmed by the Guam Legislature on September 2024. She was appointed by the Leon Guerrero – Tenorio administration as Acting Director of DPHSS June 2024. Prior to her appointment to DPHSS, Mrs. Arriola was the Director of Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center (GBHWC), the island’s Mental Health Agency and Substance Use Authority during the period January 2019 to June 2024 (5 ½ years). Notable accomplishments at GBHWC include vacated a 14-year Federal Receivership in December 2019, secured two successful CARF Re-Accreditations 2021 & 2024, re-opened GBHWC 16 bed De-Tox unit that had been closed for 17 years and established the Psychology Doctoral Internship Program as well as the Psychiatry Residency Program. Prior to her appointment as Director of GBHWC, Mrs. Arriola held the position as Executive Director of Sanctuary Inc. of Guam, the island’s longest standing community-based and CARF-accredited youth organization, focused on improving the quality of life for Guam’s youth and families struggling with mental health and substance use disorder from October 2015 – December 2018. She stabilized Sanctuary’s finances and prevented closure that threatened the NGO prior to her joining the organization.

In addition to her role as Director of DPHSS, Mrs. Arriola is Guam’s Medicaid Director. Since January 2025, she was able to secure $39M of federal dollars to modernize Guam’s Medicaid system. She also serves as a member of the Pacific Island Health Officers Association (PIHOA) where she currently holds the position of President of the PIHOA Board of Directors.

Mrs. Arriola has sat as member of several Boards on Guam – Governor’s Prevention Education and Community Empowerment (PEACE) Council; Guam Catholic Social Services; and Guam Coalition against Sexual Assault & Family Violence (Past Chairperson). She is the recipient of the 2023 Judiciary of Guam – Justicia Award. Mrs. Arriola holds a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) degree and Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Management and Marketing with a minor in Psychology from the College of Notre Dame, California. She is married and a devout Catholic that lives a purpose driven life of service.