Judy Fitzgerald

With an illustrious career spanning over twenty-five years, Judy brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of compassionate and strategic leadership. A social worker by trade, Judy has a history of strong leadership in health and human services. In 2024, she stepped into role of Executive Director at Voices for Georgia’s Children, a non-profit research, policy and advocacy organization in Atlanta, GA. Prior to Voices, Judy served as the Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) from 2016 to 2022. Her tenure was marked by transformative initiatives, navigating budget challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a strong focus on improving the lives of individuals with behavioral health challenges and intellectual and developmental disabilities. Prior to DBHDD, she served as Executive Director of the National Mental Health Association of Georgia, Senior Vice President of Strategy at View Point Health and, more recently, advisor to The Carter Center Mental Health Program and Mercy Care, a highly regarded Federally Qualified Health Center.  After earning her Masters in Social Work from the University of Georgia, Judy began her career at the Mental Health Program of The Carter Center, working for former First Lady Rosalyn Carter on domestic and international advocacy and policy efforts to promote mental health and reduce the stigma of mental illness. Judy serves on the Board of the Multi-Agency Alliance for Children (MAAC) in Georgia and the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers. She and her husband Tim Gould live in Smyrna with their two children, Abbie and Jack.