LAWRENCE — Nora Carroll comes from a large Lawrence family steeped in community service. She, however, is only the second relative they can refer to as "chief."

Effective today, Carroll, 28, has been promoted from confidential secretary to Mayor Michael Sullivan's chief of staff, a position that's remained vacant in the mayor's office for the past year and a half. Myles Burke formerly held the post before becoming the city's inspectional services commissioner.

As a lifelong city resident, Sullivan said Carroll is committed to progress in the city, making her a natural choice for the job. Her salary is slated to be $63,893, he said.

Carroll, the youngest child of Joe and Connie Carroll of Abbott Street, has worked at City Hall for the past seven years, in a variety of roles, including intern, administrator and confidential secretary.

A 1997 graduate of Lawrence High School, Carroll obtained a bachelor's degree in communications and Spanish from the University of Massachusetts at Lowell. She began working at City Hall as an intern under Mayor Patrick Dowling. After Dowling left to become a Superior Court judge, Carroll continued her internship under the administrations of mayors Frank Kivell and Marcos Devers. Sullivan asked her to stay onboard when he was elected in 2002, an invitation Carroll considered a compliment.

"Usually, with the passing of the wand, the mayor's office administration changes. I was fortunate enough to be asked by Mayor Sullivan to stay," Carroll said.

She enjoys her work at City Hall because she said it's different every day and she has the opportunity to meet many people.

As a city employee, Carroll follows in the footsteps of many of her relatives, including her father, a retired Bellevue Cemetery director, and her mother, who is the confidential secretary to police Chief John Romero. Her uncle, George Corkery — the other chief — is the chief probation officer at Lawrence District Court.

She has three sisters; Kathleen Sanzi, a Lawrence General Hospital nurse, Lynn Carroll, a Lawrence High teacher, and Mary Kate Vasque, a teacher at Parthum School. Her brother, John, is a Verizon technician and her three brothers-in-law work in the Lawrence Police and Fire departments.

In her free time, Carroll enjoys reading, running, visiting Salisbury Beach and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

As a role model, she looks to her maternal grandmother, Helen Corkery, who raised her children while working full time in Land Court. She "instilled in us the importance of community service and serving others," Carroll said.