Pierce Named New Durham County General Manager of Health & Well-being For All

Durham, NC – Interim Deputy Public Health Director Joanne Pierce has been named Durham County General Manager of Health and Well-being For All, Durham County Manager Wendell M. Davis announced on Friday, November 8, 2019.

Davis said, “Joanne is a visionary leader who brings significant organizational and management skills from State and local governments. She is up for the challenge of leading in an environment of certain uncertainty. I have every confidence that those departments in her charge will continue to be innovative and cutting edge in their performance. I’m most enthusiastic about her acceptance of our offer to join our Leadership team.”

The Health and Well-Being for All is Goal 2 of five strategic plan areas of focus for Durham County Government. The Goal 2 portfolio includes Public Health, Social Services, Library, Veteran Services, Cooperative Extension and liaison to Alliance Health. The position became vacant following the September retirement of Gayle B. Harris, longtime Public Health Director & Goal 2 General Manager.

In accepting the position, Pierce said, “I am humbled and honored to assume the role of general manager in this outstanding organization. I look forward to joining the Executive Team which manages the departments and divisions of Durham County Government.”

Pierce joined Durham County since 2014 when she was hired as Deputy Public Health Director. Prior to joining the County, she served as executive director of the State Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities in the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Division of Public Health.

She also held several leadership positions with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, including director of the State Office of Minority Health, program manager of the Office of Community Access along with program manager for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in the Texas Regional Office. Pierce also held several public health-related positions in the Washington, DC/Maryland area.

Pierce graduated from Howard University in Washington D.C. with a B.S. in Psychology and a Master of Public Health from Howard University College of Medicine. In addition, she received a Master of Arts in Counseling from Trinity Washington University in Washington D.C.

Pierce will assume her new duties on Monday, December 16th.