Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute Names New CEO

NASHVILLE - The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services has appointed Joyce Kovacs as its new Chief Executive Officer for the State of Tennessee Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute (MTMHI) in Nashville.

“We are delighted and excited by the appointment of Joyce Kovacs,” said Marie Williams, Commissioner for the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services. “I am very excited about the passion, leadership, and experience that Joyce brings to this position. I know that she will do fantastic things for those most vulnerable Tennesseans that MTMHI has the pleasure to serve.”

Joyce is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with seventeen years of experience working in mental health settings including family therapy, hospital social work, and directing clinical departments and programs. She has been employed at MTMHI for 10 years including her most recent role serving as the Assistant Superintendent for Program Services.

“I am honored and excited about the opportunity to serve as CEO of MTMHI,” said Joyce Kovacs. “In this new role, I look forward to working with the dedicated team members at MTMHI to continue building upon the great traditions and standards of excellence everyone has come to expect at MTMHI.”

Prior to joining the Department, while pursuing her degree in social work, she worked for the Lady Vols in Knoxville as a graduate assistant helping female athletes maintain emotional and physical health by helping to develop a Student-Athlete Assistance Program. Before pursing her Master of Social Work, Joyce obtained a degree in Geological Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. She was subsequently employed by Martin Marietta Energy Systems as an engineering project manager investigating and remediating hazardous waste sites for the Department of Defense.

In her personal time, Joyce enjoys learning about and cooking a whole foods plant based diet, rock and mineral collecting, and creative endeavors such as gardening and soap making.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute.

Our Mission: Provide, plan for, and promote a comprehensive array of quality prevention, early intervention, treatment, habilitation, rehabilitation and recovery support services for Tennesseans with mental illness and substance abuse issues. Our Vision: To be one of the nation's most innovative and proactive state behavioral health authorities for Tennesseans dealing with mental health and substance abuse problems. For more information, visit: http://tn.gov/behavioral-health/.