New Hanover County has appointed Donna Fayko as the county’s Health and Human Services consolidated agency director.

Fayko will start the role Oct. 6, according to a news release. She will be the county’s first agency director after the public health and social services departments consolidated in July 2019.

“We took the past year to consolidate and ensure better efficiencies among the departments, and we determined that a director of the two agencies would help bring even greater integrated service delivery to our community,” County Manager Chris Coudriet said in the release.

Fayko serves as the director of the Rowan County Department of Social Services, where she has been since 2012. She has also served as deputy director of the Mecklenburg County DSS Youth and Family Services. She has 32 years of experience in the health and human services system.

“Donna has experience in a consolidated agency in Mecklenburg County, she has a deep understanding of social work and human services, and has a demonstrated history of being a strong leader," Coudriet said. "She understands what the county wants to achieve as a Health and Human Services Agency in the years to come and will be integral in developing new partnerships for the collective good of our entire county.”

Fayko earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a bachelor’s degree in probation and parole from Pfeiffer University. She has a master’s degree in counselor education from Pennsylvania State University.

She is immediate past president of the N.C. Association for County Directors of Social Services, stated the release.