Jeni Wade

Jeni joins the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute with over 15 years of behavioral health leadership experience, including more than 12 years working across higher education and academic health systems. Her work has focused on developing innovative programs, strengthening systems of care, building cross-sector partnerships, and translating behavioral health best practices into practical strategies that improve outcomes for young people. Prior to joining the Meadows Institute, Jeni served as clinical program manager in the Department of Psychiatry at The University of Texas Dell Medical School, where she led strategic clinical operations and helped launch Amplify Center, an innovative mental health clinic for young adults embedded within Austin Community College. Previously, Jeni launched the Counselor in the Academic Residence (CARE) Program through The University of Texas at Austin Counseling and Mental Health Center. As the inaugural CARE coordinator in the Cockrell School of Engineering, where she provided clinical services within the academic environment, partnered with faculty and academic leaders to strengthen student well-being, and developed training and consultation initiatives to build mental health capacity across the school. Jeni began her career at Integral Care providing intensive community-based mental health services through the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Program and later spent several years in the San Francisco Bay Area providing hospice medical social work before returning to Austin.

In her role at the Meadows Institute, Jeni supports the growth and sustainability of the higher education portfolio, partnering with colleges, universities, and cross-sector leaders to strengthen campus mental health systems and advance evidence-based practices. She supports implementation of the Minding College Minds framework through technical assistance, coaching, strategic problem-solving, and project leadership.

Jeni is a licensed clinical social worker and board-approved supervisor. She holds a BA in Communication from the University of Colorado Boulder and a master’s in social work from The University of Texas at Austin. She lives in Austin, where she enjoys hiking and exploring nearby creeks with her husband, two sons, neighbors, and friends.