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Michelle Lancaster
Director of I/DD Programs, Wingate University
Julia's Community is pleased to welcome Michelle Lancaster as Executive Director. With over 25 years of experience as a Local Government Executive and Community Advocate, Michelle has consistently delivered mission-critical results that positively impact children, families, and communities. She is highly skilled in strategic planning, team building, relationship development, and driving cultural change to align diverse goals.
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Michelle’s notable achievements include fostering multi-agency collaboration, realigning resources and services, and leading high-profile strategic initiatives and events. Before joining Julia’s Community, she held roles as Deputy County Manager and Assistant County Manager for Union County and Mecklenburg County.
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In addition to her leadership role at Julia’s Community, Michelle serves on the boards of the United Way of the Central Carolinas/Union County Advisory Board and the Union County Arts Council Board. She is also a member of the International City/County Manager’s Association and the North Carolina City/County Manager’s Association. In 2010, she was honored with the Charlotte's 40 Under 40 award.
A proud native of Rutherford County, North Carolina, Michelle and her husband, Brian, live in Huntersville with their two sons, one of whom has Down Syndrome. As a passionate advocate for children with disabilities, Michelle’s personal connection to the cause enriches her professional role, enabling her to bring both expertise and a deep commitment to Julia’s Community.
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Michelle holds a Master of Arts in Public Administration, a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Multi-System Integration Certificate in Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice from Georgetown University.
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