Kathleen MacDonald comes to the Board with a history of serving as a dedicated advocate in the fields of mental health and insurance advocacy. As the former Policy and Communications Director for a national non-profit based in DC, she learned to fully embrace working with all sides on Capitol Hill. She also found that there is much more good happening in DC than is reported! Her role with the non-profit included spearheading the introduction of federal policy, managing relationships w/Members of Congress, developing Congressional briefings, and implementing social media and advocacy events related to eating disorders, mental health parity and related insurance issues. Kathleen’s career-long pursuit was the landmark Anna Westin Act of 2015, of which provisions passed in 2016. Her personal healing story and professional efforts have been featured in the New York Times, magazines and documentaries including “A Claim To Life” and “Your One And Only Human.” She is widely recognized for her contributions to education and prevention efforts related to eating disorders and suicide prevention thru the Speaking Tour she has committed to since 2005.

Kathleen hopes she is known for her compassion and dedication to not only the causes she champions but also to “The Zoo,” her family of rescued pets. She has rescued, and been rescued by, several English Setters who were once abandoned, and a slew of cats. She is a self-diagnosed: Repeat Foster Failure. Much like pets, Kathleen finds art to be a unifying bridge to love, compassion, and healing. She hopes to one day become like the other board members who are invaluable, weaving their life’s experiences into Lander’s love of art, the artists and their work, and the gift that is the Lander Art Center.