Timothy A. Kelly

Dr. Timothy A. Kelly is Director of the DePree Center Public Policy Institute, which addresses current issues from the perspective of "principled centrism." He is also an Associate Professor of Psychology at the Fuller Graduate School of Psychology, and a licensed clinical psychologist.

Dr. Kelly served as Commissioner for the Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services from 1994-1997, instituting a number of needed reforms such as measuring treatment outcomes in order to improve quality of care. During his tenure the state shifted away from custodial care and towards the recovery model, with the goal of enabling people with serious mental illness to have a real home, a fulfilling job, and deep relationships. For instance, the first Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) was launched.

Dr. Kelly is an expert in mental health care policy, speaking and writing on the need for transformative mental health system reform - the subject of this book. His articles and books have been published by professional psychology journals, public policy think tanks, university presses, and leading papers such as the Washington Post. He has provided expert testimony numerous times to state and federal legislative committees, as well as to various TV and radio interviewers.

Dr. Kelly received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Vanderbilt University in 1990. Prior to coming to Fuller and the DePree Center, he held faculty positions at Vanderbilt University, The American University, and George Mason University. Dr. Kelly has served on the Boards of Directors for both the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors and the National Research Institute, as well as numerous state commissions, councils and task forces. He is an active member of the American College of Mental Health Administration, and the American Psychological Association, Division 12 (Clinical Psychology).