Bert Nash Center Appoints Dr. Kirsten Watkins as Interim CEO
- Bert Nash CMHC
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Kirsten Watkins as Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective immediately.
Dr. Watkins, who joined the Bert Nash Center in August 2021, brings 20 years of experience in mental health care. As a licensed clinical psychologist, she has dedicated her career to supporting individuals and families navigating behavioral health challenges. Her leadership comes at a time when the need for accessible, compassionate, and high-quality mental health care has never been more urgent.
“I care deeply about this organization and am honored to step into this interim position to help support our teams and our mission,” said Dr. Watkins. “In difficult times, it is important to pull together rather than pull apart. I'm hopeful that our staff and our community will continue to coordinate, communicate, and pull together in order to continue the essential mission of a community mental health center.”
Dr. Watkins emphasized her confidence in the Center’s future. “Bert Nash recently celebrated our 75th anniversary and I believe in our ability to continue to be a valuable, consistent resource for our community for many more years.”
“The road ahead will not be easy. The Center is navigating ongoing challenges, but remains grounded in its commitment to clients, families, and the broader Douglas County community.” said Governing Board Chair Matthew Herbert.
“As a clinician myself, I am committed to the mission of providing the highest quality behavioral services for our community,” Dr. Watkins said. “I feel confident that we can continue to provide necessary behavioral health resources for our community and make some decisions quickly to ensure our long-term sustainability.”
The Bert Nash Center Board of Directors will begin a formal search for a permanent CEO in the coming months. In the meantime, the organization remains focused on continuity of care, supporting its team, and delivering on its core mission.
For additional information regarding the recent CEO transition, please see the following article: https://www.bertnash.org/post/leadership-transition-announcement