For Jason Joyce, chief executive officer of the Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) Board of Cuyahoga County, transforming behavioral health systems began with a fundamental lesson learned on his very first day in Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ University’s Counselor Education and Supervision (CES) program.
While pursuing his Master of Education in Community Counseling at Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹, an introductory listening exercise revealed a simple truth that would define his entire career: human-centered care and effective public leadership both require the commitment to truly hear what people need rather than dictating solutions to them.
That collaborative, listening-first mindset guided Joyce as he rose to lead Cuyahoga County’s behavioral health safety net. Throughout his distinguished career in public service, Joyce has continuously worked across sectors—uniting healthcare providers, government agencies, grassroots organizations, and local residents—to expand access to prevention, crisis intervention, long-term recovery, and supportive housing across Northeast Ohio.
Among his hallmark achievements, Joyce spearheaded the transition of the Cuyahoga County Diversion Center into the new $30 million Glick Recovery Campus Crisis Center, creating a fully integrated crisis-care continuum for the region. He also led a pivotal organizational turnaround at the Hitchcock Center for Women, helping bring a $27 million state-of-the-art residential treatment facility in Cleveland’s Hough neighborhood to fruition.
Recognized as one of Cleveland Magazine’s Top 500 Leaders and inducted into the College of Education and Human Services Hall of Fame, Joyce embodies the enduring legacy of Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹'s CES program. As the program celebrates 80 years of preparing behavioral health leaders to meet growing workforce needs, Joyce's career stands as a powerful testament to how a Á½ÐÔÉ«ÎçÒ¹ education turns classroom principles into life-saving community sanctuaries.
