Tracy Zimmerman

Tracy is a diehard optimist who believes that with authentic listening, excellent strategy and effective messaging, we can make positive change that gives everyone the opportunity to live a life with purpose. Her deep experience across policy, advocacy and communications has created lasting impact in and outside of state and federal government.

As Deputy Secretary for Policy and Communications at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Tracy led North Carolina’s communications and public outreach in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including more than 150 press briefings; the award-winning Whatever Your Reason, Get Behind the Mask campaign; and a research-informed public engagement strategy to promote COVID-19 vaccination with a focus on historically marginalized populations to ensure health equity. Prior to her work at NCDHHS, Tracy co-founded the North Carolina Early Childhood Foundation. While there she built a statewide Pathways to Grade Level Reading framework, facilitating a multi-year effort with people across sectors, disciplines and political parties to develop shared measures and strategies that support children’s optimal development.

Over her career, Tracy has worked for and on behalf of numerous public interest organizations including Smart Start, Planned Parenthood of Maryland, the National Cooperative Bank, Education Commission of the States, the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and many others.