Mary Kay Battaglia

Mary Kay started her employment at NAMI Wisconsin as the state Program Coordinator and in 2019 was promoted to Executive Director.

She served as 1st Vice Chair on the NAMI Executive Director Council (EDC), served on the 2023 Executive Director Leadership Exchange working committee and as co-chair in 2024. Mary Kay will represent NAMI Executive Directors on the NAMI Board of Directors as elected by the EDC.

Mary Kay received the NAMI Joyce Burland Inspiration Award in 2023 and Outstanding Contribution to NAMI Wisconsin Iris Award the same year.

Mary Kay’s family has supported two sisters-in-law, as well as an adult child, who live with a mental illness. She has a history of being very engaged in volunteering in her community. The combination of advocating about serious mental illness and her passion for volunteering made NAMI a perfect fit.

Mary Kay, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health and Biology from Texas A&M University and pursued a Master of Public Health degree at the University of Texas in Houston. She worked as a research coordinator at Baylor College of Medicine conducting research and studies including the NIH Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Study which analyzed pre- and post-surgical mental health status. As a Clinical Research Associate for Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Mary Kay worked on clinical trials testing antidepressants and antipsychotic medications.