Casandra Skinner Hoekstra

As Chief of Staff, Casandra “San” Skinner Hoekstra provides strategic leadership and oversight of communications, legislative affairs, internal audit, general counsel, human resources and professional standards. Committed to exceptional customer service and organizational integrity, she fosters transparency, accountability and professionalism while promoting efficiency, collaboration and operational excellence to support the department’s mission and workforce.

Before her appointment as Chief of Staff in January 2025, Hoekstra served as Chief Deputy Secretary for Administration, overseeing key administrative functions. She also served as Interim Secretary of the Department of Public Safety from August to October 2021.

With over 25 years of experience in law, policy and government relations, Hoekstra has held leadership roles including legislative counsel for the N.C. Association of County Commissioners, general counsel for DPS and the former Department of Crime Control and Public Safety, and legislative liaison for the N.C. Administrative Office of the Courts. She also served as legislative counsel for Governor Michael Easley and contributed to statewide policy efforts through the N.C. Domestic Violence and N.C. Victims Compensation Commissions.

Hoekstra holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of North Carolina at Asheville and a Juris Doctor from North Carolina Central University School of Law.