Teresa is an exemplary advocate for mental health services with over twenty years of dedicated service to the cause. Driven, with exceptional work ethic, she continues to achieve revolutionary progress for individuals and loved ones of individuals with mental health conditions.  She demonstrates passion and inspires others to work toward shared goals of access to mental health care and fair treatment for persons in crisis.  Teresa’s son and daughter both became ill in 1999 with serious mental illness.

 

“From the beginning, it was always important to appear in as many meetings and conferences as possible so mental illness was not absent from the conversation.  So my schedule was always hectic.  The hours long.  The weekends full of keeping up and working ahead.” - Teresa

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Education

Teresa is a graduation of Sentra High School in Fenton, Iowa. She then went on to pursue an Associates Degree from Iowa Lakes Community College and a Bachelors of Science in Middle and High School English with a minor in History from Mankato State College.

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Professional Experience

Retired 2011 – 39 years of service - USDA Rural Development, Des Moines, Iowa

• Assistant State Director Des Moines - 2009-2011

• Business Specialist – Des Moines – 2004-2009

• District Director – Indianola - 10/96-2004

• District Loan Specialist – Indianola - 10/83-10/96

• District Loan Technician – Indianola -12/80-10/83

• District Loan Assistant – Indianola - 12/78-12/79

• Office Manager, Ames - 1975-1978

• Clerk Typist, Algona - 1972-1975

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Advocacy and Community Involvement

• Mindspring Mental Health Alliance Board member 2021-2022

• Iowa Guardianship and Conservatorship Association – Board Member – 2020 to present

• NAMI Greater Des Moines, Expansion Founder, President or V-P 2004 – 2016

• NAMI Greater Des Moines, Board member – 2017 to 2021

• A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy (AMOS) - 2008 to present

• Iowa Mental Health Planning Council – Member 2004 to present

  • Chairperson – 2009 to present

  •   Lobbyist for IMHPC – 2018 to present

• League of Women Voters Metro Des Moines – membership 2012 to present

  • Secretary – 2014 to 2018

  • Chair of 2020 Centennial Commemoration  

  • Chairperson – 2018 to present

• Veterans Advisory Council, Des Moines VA Medical Center – 2012 to 2020

• Fifth Judicial District, Community Corrections – 2010 to present

• Iowa Rural Health Association – 2016 to present

In addition, Teresa holds membership in 9 other advocacy organizations, has been a member of multiple task forces and workgroups, and has been a training instructor for 10 different courses through the years (most recently for Crisis Intervention Team training, Hearing Voices, and Police Dispatcher training).

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