Marilyn Carter

Biography

Marilyn Carter was elected to the Orange County Board of Commissioners in November 2024 and was sworn in on Dec. 2, 2024. Prior to her role as County Commissioner, Marilyn served on the Orange County Planning Board. In 2021, she was appointed by Gov. Roy Cooper to the Commission for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Substance Abuse Services. Marilyn is also a retired engineer with nearly 30 years of experience in Fortune 100 companies, developing strategic plans, balancing revenue and costs, and ensuring excellent customer service. Marilyn’s mother was a nurse, and her father was an electrical lineman and union member. They instilled in her a commitment to service and a determination to study science and engineering. Marilyn received her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from SUNY Stony Brook. Community college (a county-funded resource!) helped make that possible, by enabling her to take summer classes and work year-round through college. Upon graduating, she joined IBM Corporation in San Jose, CA and later moved to North Carolina with the company. While working full-time, she earned a Master of Science in Engineering from Duke University. She later joined Cisco Systems, progressing into operations and senior management. North Carolina has been Marilyn’s home for most of her adult life. Marilyn and her husband, Mehdi, raised their twin daughters in Orange County, where they attended Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

Marilyn currently serves on the following national, regional, and local Boards, representing the Orange County Commissioners: 

• National Association of Counties (NACo) 
• Upper Neuse River Basin Association (UNRBA) 
• Jordan Lake One Water (JLOW) Coalition 
• Orange County Juvenile Crime Prevention Council (JCPC) 
• Triangle West Transportation Planning Organization (TW-TPO; as an Alternate) 
• Piedmont Food Processing Center (PFPC) 
• Orange County Solid Waste Advisory Group (SWAG) 
• Orange County Strategic Communications Workgroup