Debra Campbell

Biography: Debra Campbell serves as the City Manager of the City of Asheville, North Carolina. Debra was selected to assume this role in 2018. In this role she supports an elected body of 7 Council members including the Mayor to develop and advance public policy that enhances the quality of life of people who live, work, play visit and do business in Asheville. She also provides administrative and managerial support for 17 departments that provide an array of municipal services to the 100,000+ residents of the City of Asheville. Prior to being selected for the City Manager position in Asheville, she served as an Assistant City Manager in Charlotte, NC from 2014 to 2018. Prior to the City Manager position she served as the Planning Director of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Planning Department in Charlotte, NC from 2004 until 2014. Campbell joined the City-County Planning Department in 1988 as a Senior Planner and held several positions prior to being named the Director. She began her full-time public service career with the Tennessee State Planning Office and was a housing consultant with the Enterprise Foundation/Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise before moving to Charlotte. She received her Master’s degree in Public Administration and her bachelor’s degree in Urban Planning from Middle Tennessee State University. Campbell is a member of the American Planning Association, the Urban Land Institute, and the National Forum for Black Public Administrators. She serves on the board of directors of the United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County and the Asheville Area Chamber Economic Development Coalition.