Sandra Stephenson currently serves as the Chief Healthcare Officer for Southeast Healthcare in Franklin County and seven other Ohio counties. In this position, she also served as Project Director for a national SAMHSA Demonstration Grant, Primary and Behavioral Health Care Integration. She began her employment with Southeast, Inc. in 1983 as the Clinical Director and Associate Executive Director and became Executive Director in 1987, a position she held until 2007. Ms. Stephenson served as Director of the Ohio Department of Mental health and member of Governor Strickland’s Cabinet from 2007 to 2011.

Ms. Stephenson received her education at The Ohio State University, graduating with a B.S.S.W. in Social Welfare from the College of Social Work in 1974, a Master of Social Work with Clinical and Planning Majors from the College of Social Work in 1975, and a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the John Glenn School of Public Affairs in 1980. While at Ohio State, Ms. Stephenson graduated Summa Cum Laude with her bachelor’s degree; she was also the recipient of a Merit Scholar Award and selected for membership in Phi Kappa Phi, The Ohio State University Chapter, as well as being named a “Pace-Setter” in Administrative Sciences.

Ms. Stephenson served as co-chair of Psychiatry and Treatment, a sub-committee of the Criminal Justice and Mental Illness Task Force under Attorney General DeWine and Ohio Supreme Court Justice, Evelyn Stratton. She also served as a member of the Mount Carmel Health System Community Benefit Advisory Board. Ms. Stephenson is currently the Chair of the Board for the Ohio Behavioral Health Provider Network, is a member of the Columbus State Community College Human Services Advisory Board and is a Board member of the Columbus Coalition for the Homeless. She serves as a member of the Ohio Association of Community Health Centers Policy Committee. She has previously served in the following capacities: Board Member of PLAN of Central Ohio, Chairwoman of the Mental Health/Chemical Dependency/Mental Retardation Advisory Committee at Columbus State Community College, and Board Chair and Member of the Ohio Council of Behavioral Healthcare Providers.

Ms. Stephenson has received many honors and awards recognizing her efforts. To name a few since 1985, she has received numerous Certificates of Appreciation for service from the Ohio Council of Community Mental Health Organizations; and in 1993, she received the “Outstanding Leadership as President” award from the Ohio Council. Ms. Stephenson was selected as the 1998 recipient of the “Dr. Norman Guitry Award” from the Mental Health Association of Franklin County and was a recipient of the ADAMH Board of Franklin County’s “Barry Mastrine” award in 2004. She received the 2007 Corcoran Award for Mental Health from St. Vincent Family Centers. While serving in the Strickland Administration Cabinet, she was awarded the State of Ohio Distinguished Service Medal – Dept of the Army. Ms. Stephenson was a recipient of the “Distinguished Career Award” and admitted to The Ohio State University Alumni Hall of Fame, OSU College of Social Work in 2009 and the 2015 NASW Ohio Chapter/Region 5 Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms. Stephenson was awarded the Community Shelter Board Bob Lazarus “Unsung Hero” award in 2021.

Ms. Stephenson holds the following licenses: State of Ohio Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW-S), State of Ohio Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC-S) and was a State of Ohio Medical Board Licensed Massage Therapist (L.M.T.). Ms Stephenson also holds a Certification in the use of (auricular) Acupuncture for Substance Abuse, New York State.