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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.
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.
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.
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.