Ransome appointed

Sharnese Ransome will serve as director of the DHHS Office of Government and Community Relations, Secretary Carmen Hooker Odom announced Sept. 28.

“This is wonderful news, because there is simply no one better qualified for this position,” Hooker Odom said. “Sharnese tells me that she looks forward to the coming years, particularly our efforts around implementation of the mental health reforms enacted during the past session of the General Assembly, as well as our continuing efforts to better serve the citizens of this State.”

Ransome joined the Division of Social Services in 1993 as legislative liaison, and in that role was crucial to the sea change in human services. She provided critical assistance in the development of Work First and sweeping changes to child support enforcement, spending untold hours in the Legislative Building. “Her work made a real difference in the lives of many North Carolinians,” Hooker Odom said.

Since January 2003, Ransome has been the department’s liaison on Capitol Hill, where she revolutionized the department’s presence with the federal government. She has developed strong ties between the department and the state’s Congressional delegation. Her work in that position has proven invaluable to the department whether it was in the arena of fiscal relief, Medicaid reform, bioterrorism funding or the continued funding of various block grant programs.

Ransome is a graduate of North Carolina Central University and a native of Ahoskie.

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Last Modified: October 3, 2006