Contact Us
If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
Trained professionals are available to help 24 hours a day, seven days a week
If you have concerns about yourself or a loved one, contact our Helpline
Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: 800-560-5767
Email: OCA.TDMHSAS@tn.gov
Department Operator
(615) 532-6500
Commissioner's Office
Commissioner - Marie Williams, LCSW, (615) 532-6500, Marie.Williams@tn.gov
Executive Administrative Assistant - Sarah Hughson, (615) 532-6503, Sarah.Hughson@tn.gov
Chief of Staff / Chief of Hospital Services - Ty Thornton, Esq., (615) 532-6500, Ty.Thornton@tn.gov
Deputy Commissioner of Behavioral Health Community Programs - Matt Yancey, (615) 253-5443, Matt.Yancey@tn.gov
Deputy Commissioner of Administrative and Regulatory Services - Heather Gundersen, (615) 571-4300, Heather.Gundersen@tn.gov
Director of Strategic Initiatives - Jessica Youngblom, LMSW, (615) 253-3975, Jessica.Youngblom@tn.gov
Director of ADA Services - Austin Nichols, (615) 253-1992, Austin.L.Nichols@tn.gov
Division of Administrative & Regulatory Services
Assistant Commissioner - Cynthia Tyler, (615) 218-9821, Cynthia.Tyler@tn.gov
Deputy Assistant Commissioner - Alex King, J.D., (615) 770-0467, Alex.King@tn.gov
Office of Licensure - Daniel Giannotti, (615) 517-1399, Daniel.Giannotti@tn.gov
Office of Licensure - Rashanda Montgomery, (615) 532-6590, Rashanda.Montgomery@tn.gov
Office of Licensure – Complaints: 866-797-9470
Subrecipient Monitoring & Audit - Paul Havlicek, (615) 973-7816, Paul.Havlicek@tn.gov
Office of Research - Rebecca Hnilica, Ph.D., LMSW, (615) 517-6216, Rebecca.Hnilica@tn.gov
Division of Mental Health Services
Assistant Commissioner - Rob Cotterman, (615) 939- 2831, Rob.L.Cotterman@tn.gov
Deputy Assistant Commissioner - Justine Bass, (615) 393-2986, Justine.Bass@tn.gov
Behavioral Health Safety Net (BHSN of TN) - Katie Lee, (615) 770-1790, Katie.Lee@tn.gov
Office of Children, Young Adults, and Families - Keri Virgo, (615) 770-0462, Keri.Virgo@tn.gov
Consumer Affairs and Peer Recovery Services - Lisa Ragan, (615) 828-3460, Lisa.Ragan@tn.gov
Wellness and Employment - Mark Liverman, (629) 255-5356, Mark.Liverman@tn.gov
Crisis Services and Suicide Prevention - Jennifer Armstrong, (615) 339-8004, Jennifer.Armstrong@tn.gov
Housing and Homeless Services - Neru Gobin, (615) 305-7661, Neru.Gobin@tn.gov
Statewide System of Care (SOC) Initiatives - Alzena Bason, Ph.D., (615) 571-0856, Alzena.Bason@tn.gov
Juvenile Justice - Elizabeth Setty Reeve, J.D., (615) 707-0171, Elizabeth.Reeve@tn.gov
PASRR - Alicia Robeson, (615) 253-2794, Alicia.Robeson@tn.gov
Division of Substance Abuse Services
Assistant Commissioner - Taryn Harrison Sloss (615) 684-0294, Taryn.Sloss@tn.gov
Deputy Assistant Commissioner - Bev Fulkerson (615) 922-8169, Bev.Fulkerson@tn.gov
Criminal Justice Services - Rebekah Provost-Emmons (615) 924-2484, Rebekah.Provost-Emmons@tn.gov
Prevention Services - Anthony Jackson, Jr., (615) 585-8956 , Anthony.Jackson@tn.gov
Treatment and Recovery Services - Linda McCorkle, (615) 944-8246, Linda.McCorkle@tn.gov
Opioid Treatment Services – Ira Lacy, (615) 480-8027, Ira.Lacy@tn.gov
Division of Hospital Services
Chief of Staff / Chief of Hospital Services - Ty Thornton, Esq., (615) 532-6500, Ty.Thornton@tn.gov
Deputy Chief of Hospital Operations - Melissa Sparks, (615) 337-1677, Melissa.Sparks@tn.gov
Director of Hospital Services - Chris Loftis, (615) 253-4809, Chris.Loftis@tn.gov
Memphis Mental Health Institute - (901) 577-1800, CEO Jeff Coons, John.Coons@tn.gov
Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute - (615) 902-7400, CEO Joyce Kovacs, LCSW, Joyce.Kovacs@tn.gov
Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute - (423) 265-2271, CEO Mary C. Young, Mary.C.Young@tn.gov
Western Mental Health Institute - (731) 228-2000, CEO Josh Carter, Josh.Carter@tn.gov
Office of Forensic and Juvenile Court Services - Jeff Feix, Ph. D., (615) 419-4435, Jeff.Feix@tn.gov
Division of General Counsel
General Counsel/Assistant Commissioner - Zack Griffith, (615) 532-6520, Zack.Griffith@tn.gov
Deputy General Counsel - Leandra Mitchell, (615) 532-6520, Leandra.Mitchell@tn.gov
Assistant Deputy Counsel - Sam Boukli, (615) 532-6520, Sam.Boukli@tn.gov
Director of Grant Contracts - Quinn Simpson, (615) 532-6520, Quinn.Simpson@tn.gov or MHSAS.Contracts@tn.gov
Director of Procurement Contracts - Mary Lee, (615) 532-6520, Mary.Lee@tn.gov
Director of Investigations - Barb Petty, (615) 532-6520, Barbara.Petty@tn.gov
Memphis Mental Health Institute Legal Counsel - Michael Rogers, (901) 577-2861, Michael.J.Rogers@tn.gov
Middle Tennessee Mental Health Institute Legal Counsel - Kezia Mills, (615) 902-7543, Kezia.C.Mills@tn.gov
Moccasin Bend Mental Health Institute Legal Counsel - Sarah Grey McCroskey, (423) 785-3356, Sarah.G.McCroskey@tn.gov
Western Mental Health Institute Legal Counsel - Michael Rogers, (731) 228-0624, Michael.J.Rogers@tn.gov
Division of Clinical Leadership
Medical Director/Assistant Commissioner - Howard Burley, M.D., (615) 415-6420, Howard.Burley@tn.gov
Statistical Research Specialist/Licensed Psychologist - Edwina Chappell, Ph. D., (615) 310-9598, Edwina.Chappell@tn.gov
Education & Development Director/Civil Rights Compliance Coordinator - Gwen Hamer, (615) 406-5959, Gwen.Hamer@tn.gov
Chief Pharmacist/State Opioid Treatment Authority - Wesley Geminn, PharmD, (615) 532-6736, Wesley.Geminn@tn.gov
Division of Planning, Policy, and Legislation
Assistant Commissioner - Kurt Hippel, (615) 532-6717, Kurt.Hippel@tn.gov
Planning - Avis Easley, (615) 253-6397, Avis.Easley@tn.gov
Legislation and Rules - Krysten Velloff, 615-881-5280, Krysten.Velloff@tn.gov
Division of Fiscal Services
Department Controller - Michael Walden, (615) 626-4476, Michael.Walden@tn.gov
Accounts Payable - Patsy Greene, (615) 532-6642, Patsy.Greene@tn.gov
Grants Accounts Payable – Bill Jackson, (615) 532-6617, Bill.Jackson@tn.gov
Policy 03 and Cost Allocation Plans - Bill Jackson, (615) 532-6617, Bill.Jackson@tn.gov
Office of Communications
Director/Media Contact - Matthew Parriott, (615) 943-3172, Matthew.Parriott@tn.gov
Office of Information Technology
Executive Director – Richard Zhu, (615) 521-0813, Richard.Zhu@tn.gov
Office of Human Resources: (615) 532-6580
Location and Mailing Address
Andrew Jackson Building, 6th Floor
500 Deaderick St | Nashville, TN 37243