Evans-Stanton Named New DENR Deputy Secretary
RALEIGH -- Sherri Evans-Stanton, assistant secretary for natural resources in the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, has been appointed as the agency’s deputy secretary for policy and programs, Secretary Wayne McDevitt announced today.
Evans-Stanton, replaces Henry Lancaster, who resigned to become the director of intergovernmental affairs for the N.C. League of Municipalities. Prior to joining the department, Evans-Stanton was a staff attorney with the N.C. General Assembly, providing legal advice for legislative committees on environmental, coastal and marine fisheries issues. As assistant secretary, she spearheaded reform activities in the state’s Division of Marine Fisheries, efforts to preserve the Jocassee Gorges in Transylvania County and helped coordinate the state’s response to pfiesteria outbreaks in coastal rivers. She has also lead the state’s inter-departmental Clean Environment Team.
“Sherri has demonstrated tremendous leadership on a number of high-profile issues as assistant secretary,” McDevitt said. “She knows how to make things happen and will be able to hit the ground running.”
Evans-Stanton, a native of Fort Worth, Texas, has a B.A. in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin and a law degree from Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California.
In conjunction with the appointment, McDevitt also announced some changes in the departmental organization.
The DENR chief of staff slot has been renamed to the deputy secretary for operations to more accurately reflect the position’s activities. Michael Williamson, the agency’s chief of staff since 1997, will serve in that position. Since he joined the department, Williamson has lead the department’s strategic planning, continuous improvement, customer service and regulatory reform efforts. His new responsibilities will include overseeing the department’s administrative functions.
In other changes, Lloyd Inman was named as the department’s director of administrative services to coordinate DENR’s seven regional offices, internal policies, federal grants and special projects. Diane Long has been named as the deputy director for intergovernmental affairs in the department’s Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs. She will serve as a department liaison with local, state and federal agencies and coordinate DENR’s environmental equity initiative.
“We have an outstanding team in place in this agency,” McDevitt said in announcing the changes. “These changes will allow us to continue our efforts to improve customer service and agency performance.”
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Date Posted: 12/14/98
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