The N.C. Commerce Department has named a new assistant secretary for the Division of Workforce Solutions. Andrea DeSantis, most recently a policy adviser for Gov. Roy Cooper, focusing on workforce development and higher education, will assume her new role starting Wednesday, April 3.
She replaces current Assistant Secretary Chet Mottershead, who is retiring and will remain at the agency for a short time during the transition period. Mottershead has worked for the Commerce Department more than 27 years, and in his current role since 2021.
Workforce Solutions works with the NCWorks system, and administers programs that trains residents for jobs and helps businesses with finding skilled employees.
Before joining the Governor’s Office in 2022, DeSantis was a senior workforce development analyst for the NCWorks Commission, the state workforce development board. Earlier, she worked as assistant director of research at N.C. State University’s Belk Center for Community College Leadership & Research.
DeSantis has a bachelor’s degree from the College of Charleston and a master’s degree from the University of Cincinnati. She has a doctorate degree in Educational, Leadership, Policy and Human Development from N.C. State University. DeSantis and her family live in Cary.