As executive director, Gwendolyn W. Burrell will head the 37 employees who provide staff support to the Governor's Crime Commission. Burrell has been the deputy director for grants management and statistical analysis in the division for the past six years. She replaces David Jones who was named deputy secretary for the Department of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in March.

Barry Bryant, current deputy director of Policy and Planning, will serve an expanded role as acting deputy for the GCC Division. New oversight responsibilities include grants management and statistical analysis.

“Gwendolyn and Barry are two strong administrators and have served the Governor's Crime Commission well over the years,” Young said. “They are committed to reducing and preventing crime and protecting our citizens.”

A graduate of N.C. Central School of Law in 1993, Burrell was in private practice for six years, and then worked for the Attorney General's office for three years before coming to the GCC Division in 2003 as a deputy director. She oversaw the management of about 500 grants statewide to state and local government agencies and non-profits, and the collection and analysis of data relating to criminal justice programs.

Bryant became a grant manager for GCC in 1993. In 1997, he became the lead planner for victims' services issues. For the past two years, as deputy director of Policy and Planning, Bryant was responsible for oversight and equitable distribution of the federal and state funding administered by the Crime Commission, including the Byrne Memorial, Victims of Crime Act and Violence Against Women Act funding.

The Governor's Crime Commission is comprised of 45 criminal justice professionals from across the state, including its chairman, District Attorney Scott Thomas who was appointed by Gov. Bev Perdue in June.