Patrick-Murray Administration Appoints Marcia Fowler, M.A., J.D., Commissioner of the Department of Mental Health
BOSTON — The Patrick-Murray Administration today announced that Marcia Fowler, M.A., J.D., has been appointed to serve as Commissioner for the Department of Mental Health, which provides services to adults, children and adolescents living with long-term or serious mental illness and serious emotional disturbance, promoting recovery and independence. Ms. Fowler, who currently serves as the Department's Deputy Commissioner for Mental Health Services, has more than 25 years of human service management and budget experience in both the public and private sectors. She will succeed Barbara A. Leadholm, M.S., M.B.A., who is stepping down February 5. Commissioner Fowler will assume her new role on February 6.
“As Commissioner, Marcia Fowler will bring a deep understanding of the Commonwealth’s behavioral health system and will promote the vision of providing the highest quality and most efficient and effective care for our most vulnerable citizens,” said Governor Deval Patrick. “I thank Barbara Leadholm for her service to the Commonwealth and its residents.”
“Marcia Fowler brings to this role a wealth of experience in behavioral health care,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. JudyAnn Bigby. “Her expertise was vital to implementing the Community First initiative as part of its continuum of quality services for people with serious mental illness. I look forward to working with her in supporting all consumers in their realization of achieving successful recoveries in the community.”
A lawyer and a clinician, Ms. Fowler’s career in human services began with the Department of Mental Retardation and the Fernald State School, where she worked in various direct care and supervisory capacities for adults with developmental disabilities and mental illness. She has also worked at the New England Home for Little Wanderers, Morgan Memorial Goodwill Industries, the Foundation for Children with AIDS, and Polaris Healthcare Services.
Ms. Fowler has 16 years of service with the Department of Mental Health. Prior to her appointment as Deputy Commissioner, she served the Department as North East Area Director and as Director of Investigations. In her current position, she is responsible for the operations of all state and contracted mental health inpatient and community-based programs and services, as well as monitoring and oversight. She also chairs the Procurement Management Team, which oversees the development and design of all DMH services. Ms. Fowler holds a B.A. in Psychology from Saint Francis Xavier University, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology from Lesley College, and a Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School.
“I am humbled and honored that Governor Patrick and Secretary Bigby have selected me to serve the people of the Commonwealth as Mental Health Commissioner at this pivotal time in the Department’s history,” said Commissioner Fowler. “We have a solid foundation in our vision of recovery for DMH consumers created by Barbara Leadholm, and I will work to ensure that this vision becomes a reality for the adults, children, adolescents and families we serve.”
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