Lea Simms

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT LEA SIMMS

Hi, I\'m Lea Simms, a mission-driven program manager with over 10 years of experience driving impact across the mental health, substance use, and public health sectors. With a background in psychology and public health, I specialize in leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects at non-profits and associations that strengthen organizational capacity, streamline processes, and create lasting impact.I’ve led high-impact projects at the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing- from developing national continuing education programs to managing partnerships that expanded the reach and effectiveness of behavioral health services. Most recently at the American Counseling Association, I spearheaded leadership development and strategic relationship-building initiatives with over 80 external stakeholders, strengthening ACA’s role in the counseling field.I’m passionate about building systems that work for organizations, for providers, and for the people they serve. I bring a collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to project management, team leadership, and stakeholder engagement. Whether it’s launching new programs or improving existing ones, I thrive on turning big ideas into lasting impact.Let’s connect - I’m currently exploring new opportunities to lead meaningful work at the intersection of mental health, substance use, and public health.