BHECN announces personnel changes

Katrina “Kati” Cordts, PhD, has been named deputy director, and Chuck Brown has been named associate director for external relations at the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska.

The promotions follow the impending departure of Erin Schneider, EdD, who has accepted a job as a policy analyst in the Minnesota Department of Health and Human Services after serving as deputy director and associate director for external relations at BHECN.

Dr. Cordts, who also is an assistant professor in the UNMC Department of Pediatrics, previously served as BHECN’s associate director of education and training.

Dr. Cordts will continue to oversee BHECN’s educational programming, but the new position also will allow her to help set and execute BHECN’s overarching organizational strategy, said BHECN Director Marley Doyle, MD.

“Dr. Cordts played a key role in leading BHECN through a period of unprecedented growth and change,” Dr. Doyle said. “I am thrilled she will be able to use her talents, skills and vision as we continue our upward trajectory.”

Dr. Cordts, who has a master’s degree and PhD in clinical child psychology from the University of Kansas, joined BHECN in 2021.

Dr. Cordts played a key role in helping BHECN secure and reallocate $25.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars to providers and other entities around the state, Dr. Doyle said.

In his new role, Brown will oversee BHECN’s communications, public policy work and other external relations functions. He previously was BHECN’s strategic communications manager.

Before joining BHECN in February 2023, Brown was communications director and deputy director of OpenSky Policy Institute. Prior to that, he worked for seven years in UNMC Strategic Communications as editor of UNMC Today.

Brown holds a master’s in fine arts in writing degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“Chuck brings a unique and invaluable skillset to BHECN, blending his extensive expertise in communications and policy with a keen understanding of strategic outreach,” Dr. Schneider said. “His leadership will help BHECN remain a leader in behavioral health workforce development while fostering greater awareness and understanding of the critical importance of behavioral health in Nebraska.”