Executive Director

Nelson, a longtime advocate for improved behavioral health services, brings a long career of public- and private-sector experience to the OneOhio Recovery Foundation Board. Nelson most recently served for nearly two years as Director of Behavioral Health Strategy for one of Ohio’s Medicaid managed care organizations and previously served as director of RecoveryOhio in Governor Mike DeWine’s office where she was responsible for overseeing mental health and addiction-related work across 17 state agencies, boards and commissions. Prior to joining Governor DeWine’s cabinet, Nelson served in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office where she offered statewide technical assistance to communities fighting the opioid epidemic at a time when Ohio had one of the nation’s highest unintentional drug overdose death rates. In the AG’s office, Nelson helped host the “Ideas that Work: Fighting the Drug Epidemic in Ohio” statewide emergency meeting that targeted the state’s more than 950 law enforcement entities, along with dozens of community leaders and directors from fifty Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Boards. Nelson holds a bachelor’s degree in strategic communication from The Ohio State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Ohio Dominican University. A native of Akron, Nelson now lives in Central Ohio with her husband and three children.

As OneOhio’s executive director, Nelson is committed to improving support for all Ohioans impacted by mental illness and substance use disorders.