Amber J. Donnelly, Ed.S.
Amber J. Donnelly, Ed.S., is the Executive Director of the Madison County Mental Health Board in Edwardsville, Illinois, where she leads the strategic distribution of public tax-levy funds supporting mental health, substance use recovery, and intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) services. With more than 30 years of experience in educational leadership and systems change, she has built a career focused on strengthening community-based care, improving service coordination, and ensuring that public resources are allocated with transparency and impact. She holds an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from the University of Missouri–Columbia.
Throughout her career, Amber has worked across early childhood education, nonprofit leadership, and government funding systems, moving from classroom and school leadership roles into state-level grantmaking and program administration. She has served in senior leadership positions managing multi-million-dollar budgets, overseeing statewide early childhood and family support initiatives, and collaborating with agencies such as departments of mental health, child welfare, and education. Her work consistently emphasizes trauma-informed leadership, data-driven decision-making, and cross-sector partnership building to improve outcomes for children, families, and vulnerable populations.
In her current role, she serves as a key bridge between community needs and state systems, overseeing funding strategy, contract management, and community needs assessments that guide long-term planning for Madison County services. She is also an author and speaker, known for advocating family resilience, systemic collaboration, and stigma reduction in behavioral health. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Amber is deeply engaged in community service as a Girl Scouts leader, foster volunteer, and advocate for child and family wellbeing, reflecting her belief that leadership is defined by sustained service and community impact.
• Ethical Research Relationships: IRBs and Focus Groups
• Women-Owned Small Business
• Google AI Essentials
• ChatGPT Course & Certification
• AI Course & Certification
• CliftonStrenghts Certificate of Talent
• Leadership St. Louis
• Early Childhood: Birth - 3rd Grade Career Continuous Professional Certificate
• University of Missouri-Columbia - Ed.S.
• Girl Scouts Lifetime Member
• CESA (Community Emergency Services and Support Act) Chair
• Leadership St. Louis Mentor
• Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois
• Cat Foster
• Church Community Lunch Volunteer
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to a combination of leadership and empathy, which I first recognized through early experiences with spiritual gifts and vocational discernment. I also bring a strong teaching orientation to my work, which helps me develop others while continuing to grow myself. In addition, I view setbacks as valuable learning opportunities that strengthen my professional development and resilience.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Two pieces of advice have shaped my approach to my career. First, I’ve learned that people tend to forget many mistakes over time, so it’s important to treat setbacks as opportunities for reflection, learning, and professional growth. Second, I’ve carried forward the principle that as a leader, I should take ownership of failures while also being willing to accept credit when things go well.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to lead with purpose, support other women, and stay resilient, drawing on both professional and personal experiences. My volunteer work as a lifelong Girl Scout, co-leader of a troop, and cat foster caring for mama cats and their litters has reinforced the importance of service, patience, and responsibility. In your career, focus on helping others succeed while viewing setbacks as learning opportunities that build strength, confidence, and long-term growth.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges and opportunities in my field center on maintaining excellence and honesty in both professional and personal contexts, as these qualities are essential for building trust and creating meaningful opportunities. At the same time, there is a strong need to increase access to services and reduce stigma, since only about one in five people currently seek support. Key priorities also include closing funding gaps so cost is not a barrier, developing unified crisis-response systems that route mental-health calls to trained crisis teams instead of law enforcement, and addressing the ongoing substance-use crisis. As housing taxes and levy-funded services evolve, ensuring transparency and accountability remains critical to sustaining public trust and effective support systems.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are transparency and responsible stewardship of public funds, as well as compassion without judgment in how I support others. I also prioritize mentorship and intentionally helping other women grow and succeed, alongside honesty in all professional and personal interactions. At the core of my approach is a commitment to community-centered service that keeps the needs and dignity of others at the forefront of my decisions.
Locations
Madison County Mental Health Board
Edwardsville, IL 62025