Dr. Rod Jenkins is the Public Health Director for the Durham County Department of Public Health where he provides leadership and steadfast service to the residents of the Durham County.

Jenkins joined Durham County in January of 2020. Prior to joining Durham County, he served as Deputy Public Health Director in Cumberland County, North Carolina for 9 years. Dr. Jenkins also served as Assistant County Manager for Robeson County, North Carolina for three years. Dr. Jenkins also has over 10 years’ experience as a banking manager with Wells Fargo Bank in both the North and South Carolina markets.

A veteran of the United States Army, Dr. Jenkins holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from The Citadel-The Military College of South Carolina (1997); a Master of Health Administration degree from The University of South Carolina (2005); and is a Doctor of Public Health having completed the Executive Doctoral Program in Public Health Leadership at The University of North Carolina’s Gillings School of Global Public Health (2024). Dr. Jenkins also completed UNC’s School of Government’s Municipal & County Administration Course (2010). His fellowship experiences include the prestigious Jim Bernstein Community Health Leadership Fellows Program offered through the Foundation for Health Leadership and Innovation (2015-2017) and the Civics Federal Credit Union Fellows Program offered through the UNC’s School of Government (2018). Dr. Jenkins was awarded NC Public Health’s highest award--the Ronald Levine Public Health Award for his steadfast leadership during the global pandemic (2022) along with the North Carolina Public Health Association’s Reynold’s Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to North Carolina Public Health (2023).

Dr. Jenkins currently serves as the Past President of the NC Association of Local Health Directors; Past President of the NC Public Health Association; Board Member of the NC Alliance for Public Health Agencies; Board Chair of Durham’s Partnership for Children; North Carolina Affiliate Representative to the Governing Board for the American Public Health Association; and Vice Chair of Project Access of Durham County.

He is married to his lovely wife, Shereta, and is the proud father of two children-Rodney Jr. (Roddy) and Isabella LaRue-affectionately known as Bella.