Chris Egan

Chris Egan is the Senior Director for Employment Services and leads the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Division of Services for the Blind, Division of Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, and Disability Determination Services. These divisions engage in services and supports that positively impact the lives of individuals with disabilities by reducing barriers to employment, independent living and financial security.

Egan is driven by his deep belief in the value of all people, the importance of integrated and inclusive communities, and the value of person and family-centered approaches to identify and work toward positive outcomes for individuals served. He believes that expanding employment opportunities leads to financial gains and much more, including better overall health and well-being.

Egan graduated with a Master of Social Work from East Carolina University and began his career as a Clinical Social Worker at Dorothea Dix Hospital in 1989, focusing on transitioning adults diagnosed with severe and persistent mental health issues back to community living. Egan next worked with individuals experiencing developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health issues in support of North Carolina’s response to the Thomas S. class action lawsuit. He later joined and directed the Developmental Disabilities Training Institute at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Most recently, Egan was the Executive Director of the NC Council on Developmental Disabilities. Working in partnership with a 40-member Governor-appointed council, Egan focused on systems change efforts through demonstration grants designed to elevate awareness and avenues for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities, promoting greater choices and options for integration, inclusion and independence.