Durham-Orange Estate Planning Council Lunch Meeting
Senator Mike Woodard
Mike Woodard is the North Carolina State Senator representing District 22: Durham County.
Before joining the General Assembly in 2013, Senator Woodard served on the Durham City Council for seven years.
Senator Woodard currently serves on the Health Care, Finance, Budget, Transportation, Agriculture & Environment, Rules, and Nominations committees. He is co-chair of the Life Sciences Caucus and of the Arts Caucus, as well as an active member of the Agriculture-Rural Caucus. He is a Legislative Fellow of the North Carolina Institute of Medicine.
In his professional life, Senator Woodard is a long-time administrator with Duke University and the Duke Health System. He also worked as an administrator and instructor at Durham Technical Community College.
A tenth-generation North Carolinian and a native of Wilson, he graduated from Duke with degrees in economics, political science, and non-profit management.
Senator Woodard has been active in community affairs for more than 30 years, serving in leadership roles with a variety of community, civic, and religious groups.
Among the recent awards and honors Senator Woodard has received are: the 2023 Legislative Champion on Mental Health; NC Go’s 2022 Transportation Champion; the NC Association of Rehabilitation Facilities’ 2022 Legislative Champion; the Audubon Society’s 2022 Conservation Champion; the Long Term Care Association’s 2020 Legislator of the Year; the North Carolina Craft Brewers’ 2019 Senator of the Year; and the 2019 Durham County Honorary Fire Chief Award.
He is married to the Reverend Sarah Woodard, a human resources officer for Duke Medicine, an ordained minister serving St. Titus’ Episcopal Church and as a hospital chaplain, and an active community volunteer. She is President of the Sir Walter Cabinet, an organization for the spouses of state elected officials.
