Michael Leighs

Michael Leighs has more than 20 years of experience working in health and human services with a focus on public policy, program management, and stakeholder engagement. As Deputy Secretary for Opportunity and Well-Being at NCDHHS, Michael oversees multiple divisions that support North Carolinians across all stages of life. 

The portfolio includes Child and Family Well-Being, Social Services, Child Development and Early Education, Aging Services, Employment and Independence for People with Disabilities, Services for the Blind, and Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Together, they operate with a combined budget of approximately $4.4 billion and are supported by over 3,000 full-time staff.

Since joining NCDHHS in early 2019, Michael has held senior roles in the Office of Government Affairs and NC Medicaid, where he led communications and external engagement during the state's transition to Medicaid managed care. Michael also worked closely on the rollout of Medicaid expansion across the state, which now serves more than 700,000 North Carolinians. Before joining the NCDHHS team, he led public policy strategy for the North Carolina Partnership for Children.

Before returning to North Carolina, Michael worked in Los Angeles for more than 10 years in the government and nonprofit sectors, including serving in senior roles at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.

Michael's career in public policy began as a staff member in the U.S. Senate. He has an undergraduate degree in business administration from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master of Public Policy degree from UCLA.