Cheryl Donald

Cheryl Donald is the Director of the Office of Regional Operations at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Administration for Children and Families (ACF). Ms. Donald advises the ACF Assistant Secretary on state relations, cross-program strategic initiatives, and public-private partnerships to improve outcomes for children and families. ORO is comprised of a headquarters office in Washington, DC and 10 regional offices across the nation that serve states and territories in their geographical areas. ORO provides a contextual understanding of regions and states to inform federal policy.

Before joining ACF, Ms. Donald was the regional administrator of HHS’ Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs in Region 2 and served a yearlong detail as the acting regional administrator for Region 4. Ms. Donald worked collaboratively with HRSA programs and stakeholders to improve health care systems and America’s health care safety net, increase access to quality primary care, and advance public health. She led external affairs and outreach efforts while managing human capital, technology, and facilities in New York City, San Juan and Atlanta.

Prior to arriving at HHS in 2001, Ms. Donald served Hofstra University in Long Island New York as the university’s first academic counselor for Division 1 student-athletes and ultimately assistant dean of academic advisement and director of the university-wide tutorial program. She is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, clinical fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), an AAMFT approved supervisor and 24-time marathoner, having completed all six of the World Marathon Majors.

Ms. Donald holds a Master of Business Administration degree in health care administration from Baruch College of the City University of New York and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, a Master of Arts degree in marriage and family therapy from Hofstra University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Mississippi.