Lynda Zeller
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Lynda is the Senior Fellow, Behavioral Health for the Michigan Health Endowment Fund. The mission of the fund is to improve the health of Michigan residents, with special emphasis on health and wellness of children and seniors while reducing the cost of care. Her work is focused specifically on cross cutting goals of strengthening the workforce in behavioral health systems and seamless integration of services including social determinants of health and wellness.
Previously, she served seven years as the deputy director for the Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. In this position, Lynda functioned as the State Authority for all community based mental health, substance use disorder, intellectual and developmental disabilities policy and services; including all publicly funded treatment, prevention and supports; and was responsible for the five state psychiatric and forensic hospitals For the three years prior, she served as the Health Services Administrator for the Michigan Department of Corrections, overseeing provision of all health, behavioral heath and dental services for the state’s prison system. Immediately prior to Michigan Department of Corrections, Lynda was the Chief Executive Officer for the Kent Health Plan, a safety net health coverage plan in Michigan.
In total, Lynda has more than 30 years of service in fields of indigent health care, developmental disabilities support and services, community behavioral health, and managed care. Her job responsibilities across those years are wide-ranging and include direct care residential, case management, information technology, quality, government relations strategy and more. Lynda’s most recent national board experience includes: National Association for State Mental Health Program Directors (immediate past president), The Council of State Governments Justice Center, and the National Research Institute (current Vice President). Lynda is also a sister of persons receiving services in intellectual/developmental disabilities and behavioral health service systems. She counts her siblings as sources of important strength, encouragement and learning throughout her life’s work.