Chief of Staff, Mary Kate McLaughlinChief of Staff Mary Kate McLaughlin graduated from the University of Delaware with a bachelor of arts in international relations before serving in the first class of Public Allies in Wilmington. Her career then took her to Cecil Community College in Maryland, where she worked for five years administering non-credit career and vocational training programs. She began her legislative experience as a policy analyst for Maryland’s Workforce Investment Board under Governor Parris Glendenning’s administration.
She joined Delaware state government as chief policy advisor for the Department of Health and Human Services during Gov. Minner’s first term, where she helped to implement key initiatives such as the smoking ban (Clean Indoor Air Act) and the cancer treatment program. In Minner’s second term, she moved into the governor’s office, serving as advisor on Health & Social Services, Children’s Issues and Labor. She left Minner’s office at end of second term to serve in government affairs roles with Valero’s Delaware City Refinery and subsequently with Wyeth pharmaceuticals in Madison, New Jersey, where she was the manager of state and federal government affairs for the company’s Consumer Division.
McLaughlin joined the Markell administration in February 2009 serving in a dual role – primarily as Deputy to the Secretary of the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families, and secondarily as Gov. Markell’s liaison on Health & Social Services & the Department. Her roles included work on early education and overseeing the education unit at DSCYF.
A Wilmington resident and proud aunt to nine nieces and nephews ages 8 to 20, McLaughlin also serves on the 21st Century Fund for Delaware’s Children Board and is a mentor to youth aging out of foster care.
Phone: (302) 735-4005
Fax: (302) 739-4654
Email: marykate.mclaughlin@doe.k12.de.us
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