Senior Executive Director, Adult Behavioral Health Services
Merakey
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Nicole Connell is an innovative healthcare and human services executive with nearly 20 years of experience at the intersection of behavioral health, public social services, community health, and education. She combines leadership and strategic planning with direct service experience in diverse public service sectors, including healthcare, policy, economic and community development, and education.
As the Senior Executive Director for Southeast PA at Merakey, Nicole oversees a diverse portfolio of adult behavioral health services, ensuring quality care across multiple regions. One of her notable accomplishments includes leading the development of Philadelphia’s first behavioral health urgent care center at Merakey, a groundbreaking initiative that provides immediate access to mental health services in the community. Nicole continues to spearhead the development of innovative mental health programs, using a combination of predictive analytics, research, and community voice to drive change and improve access to care.
Nicole came to Merakey from the City of Philadelphia's Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disability Services, where she held several executive leadership roles. Her decision to join Merakey was driven by a desire to expand programs and have a broader impact on the communities she serves.
A native of Philadelphia, Nicole brings her professional and personal lived experiences to offer a distinctive leadership perspective. She excels in building coalitions and managing collaborative relationships across public organizations, engaging elected officials, and leading multi-disciplinary teams to enact policies that yield practical, sustainable outcomes. Her deep understanding of systems, rooted in her experience as both a direct service professional and an executive leader, fuels her passion for addressing inequitable access to resources that impact social and health outcomes.
Nicole remains committed to her community, serving on several committees and boards, and is a member of numerous local and national professional organizations. She is a graduate of Temple University and Eastern University and is currently pursuing a doctorate in Public Administration.
MTS6 - Urgent Walk-in Care: Brief Solution Interventions
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
2:45 PM – 3:45 PM ET