HBCUs/MSIs & Change Champion Internship Program Leadership and Support

Debra Farrington, Chief Health Equity Officer (CHEO)

Debra Farrington is DHHS Deputy Secretary/Chief Health Equity Officer, focused on addressing health disparities and the health needs of North Carolina’s most vulnerable citizens.  Prior to promotion to the Deputy Secretary role in May 2022, Debra was the Chief of Staff for NC Medicaid. In that role, Debra provided support to the Deputy Secretary on overall program vision, leadership and strategic direction for NC Medicaid including planning, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating operations and policies to promote health equity, effective program administration and service delivery. One of Debra’s biggest priorities during her tenure as chief of staff was to support Medicaid staff on equity-related issues. Notably, after the civil unrest of 2020, Debra worked with colleagues in NC Medicaid to form a Diversity and Inclusion Committee and retain an equity and inclusion vendor to conduct an organizational assessment and provide training and leadership coaching to executive leadership. Debra has supported the agency’s focus on advancing equity in hiring, advancement, and creation of HR policies for historically marginalized individuals. Debra joined the Medicaid program in October 2016 after working several decades in the Local Management Entity/Managed Care Organization (LME-MCO) and area authority systems.

Debra is a native North Carolinian reared and educated in rural Columbus County where she learned the value of family, hard work and perseverance. Debra received a BA in Psychology and Master of Social Work degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is a licensed clinical social worker with over 30 years of experience in community-based services for children and adults with behavioral health needs.

Angela Bryant, Assistant Secretary

Angela R. Bryant brings more than 40 years of legal, governmental, nonprofit and health care experience to her position as Assistant Secretary for Equity and Inclusion in the Health Equity Portfolio as a lawyer, adult day healthcare director, member of the UNC Board of Governors, twelve-year legislator and 35 years as DEI and community and organizational development consultant to business, government, health care, education, faith-based, community-based, and philanthropic organizations.

Dr. Bryle Henderson Hatch, Director of the Office of People, Culture and Belonging

Dr. Bryle Henderson Hatch is an inclusive engagement professional with experience in diversity, equity, and inclusion, workforce development, and educational programming. As Director of the Office of People, Culture and Belonging, Dr. Hatch is charged with leading, coordinating and administering DHHS initiatives that drive development, design, and implementation of an enterprise-wide DEI strategy. He facilitates the strategic efforts to build and sustain a strong and inclusive workforce at DHHS that can intervene to effectively achieve health and program equity outcomes.

His professional experiences include serving as Vice President and Chief of Staff of West Virginia State University and Executive Director for Community Engagement at North Carolina A&T State University. He mostly recently served as the Executive Director of Thrive High Point, a multi-million-dollar initiative to support diversity and inclusion in local entrepreneurship.

Within the field of DEI, he served as the Diversity Manager for Duke University’s School of Medicine; leading underrepresented minority recruitment, faculty education, community building, and external projects related to diversity and inclusion. Hatch also worked as the Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator for the Office of State Human Resources (OSHR) and a Director of Workforce Development within the North Carolina Community College System.

Dr. Hatch earned a bachelor’s degree in speech communication, a master’s degree in adult and higher education and a doctorate in leadership studies, all from North Carolina A&T State University.  He also completed post-baccalaureate studies in public communication at American University in Washington, D.C.

Michael Leach, Senior Advisor

Michael A. Leach is a career state employee that uses organizational, research, advocacy, negotiating and communications skills to help elected officials and public administrators best shape public policy.  He currently serves as Senior Advisor with DHHS, Office of the Secretary, Health Equity Portfolio and is an HBCU alum from Shaw University and NC Central University.

Donyea Daniels, HBCU/MSI Internship Program Manager

Donyea L. Daniels joins the Health Equity Portfolio as the DHHS HBCU/MSI Program Manager.  Mr. Daniels has 31 years of professional experience in the education sector working at local and state levels.  He served as a school administrator, content specialist, and classroom teacher.  

Donyea is passionate about advancing the professional and instructional growth of adult learners across diverse communities.  Donyea is also passionate about living mentally and physically healthy.

A native of North Carolina, Donyea Daniels received his undergraduate degree in Education from East Carolina University and a graduate degree in School Administration from North Carolina Central University.  

Donyea Daniels dedicated more than 30 years of service as an educator, consultant and school administrator. Mr. Daniels is pleased to join the Office of the Secretary – Health Equity Portfolio as the HBCU/MSI Program Manager.

Correll D. McRae MPH, CHC, Change Champion Program Manager

Correll McRae is an executive leader and health research strategist who uses the principles of the global standard of project management to provide project management and administrative support. In doing so, he helps organize and build communities using strategic coalitions and partnerships in community health to support the implementation of research and evidence-based interventions. Correll joins the Office of the Secretary – Health Equity Portfolio as the Change Champions Program Manager. Correll is an HBCU alum from Winston-Salem State University with an MPH from Eastern Virginia Medical School.

Angel Feimster, Program Coordinator

Angel M. Feimster is the program coordinator for the DEI/HBCU/MSI program. She was born and raised in Raleigh, NC and graduated from NC State with a BA in Anthropology and Sociology and an MS in Anthropology from Wichita State University. She is also an adjunct anthropology lecturer at Wake Tech.