Kane proud to serve as a ‘Voice of Appalachia’ on Voinovich School Advisory Board

As a person whose family bleeds Cutler Green, Theressa Kane is a good fit to serve on the Advisory Board for the George V. Voinovich School of Leadership and Public Service at Ohio University.

She’s an even better fit based on her continuing service over the decades to people with struggles in rural southeastern Ohio.

The registered nurse worked with Perry Behavioral Health Choices for nearly 39 years, including the last 14 as executive director. She now serves as chief executive officer at Behavioral Health Choices, which was formed after the Perry County group merged with similar providers in Guernsey, Noble, Morgan and Muskingum counties. She also volunteers at the Appalachian Center for Economic Networks.

“Working poor – that’s our people,” Kane said. “We provide substance abuse and mental health services.”

When Kane began her career at Perry she held a nursing degree from Hocking College. She would return to school several years later and receive a bachelor’s degree in behavioral healthcare from OHIO. She quickly followed that up by earning a master’s degree in public administration from the University.

By the time she decided to seek her undergraduate degree, Kane was already well into a career she had decided would be her lifetime focus beyond being a registered nurse.

OHIO created a specialized study in behavioral health that included several components directly tied to her existing job, she said. 

“I had the vision that one day behavioral health would be alongside physical health care. It was really my first love – dealing with people who some think society had given up on. That’s really where my passion was,” Kane said.

“What I liked about what OU did was tailor it back to my field and really helped me to do what I do but do it better,” she added.

Her initial view of obtaining the master’s degree was to get the “paper” to more legitimize a leadership position in her field, Kane said. She found the process, and studying under faculty including Professor Jason Jolley and former dean Mark Weinberg, to be much more rewarding.

The former student cited several examples of her coursework that helped her improve in her professional life: evaluations, statistics, writing competitive grants, capital project funding, recovery housing studies, outcome studies, budgeting and related public-private partnerships, and interactive, supervisory and collaborative teamwork skills beneficial to running a non-profit group.

“I learned a lot. I did a lot. Every project I was able to take back to my field,” she said. “My education at OU has served me very well.”

Since graduating, Kane stayed in contact with the school as her daughter Blake Kimes, who also works at Behavioral Health Choices, followed her footsteps through both the undergraduate and graduate programs. She has served as a guest speaker at some of the classes, she said.

She came to the Advisory Board at the request of Voinovich School Dean Tracy Plouck, who she knew previously from Plouck’s time as director of what is now the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health. She didn’t hesitate at the chance to serve.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for the Voinovich School. That’s why I was happy to volunteer,” she said, adding that her experiences in the field drive her contributions to the board.

“I feel I’m a voice of Appalachia because I work with folks who have struggles and watch them overcome them,” she said. “That’s my honor. That’s my calling. I’m a voice for people who have grown up in poverty.”

“I believe in paying it forward and the Advisory Board allows me to do that,” Kane said.

Kane also describes her family as Bobcats through and through. Along with her daughter and husband Michael, Kane has members of staff who have earned OHIO degrees over the years and is a lifelong supporter of Ohio University sports.

“We enjoy the basketball program and the football program and have good seats at both of those,” she said.

Based on her five granddaughters’ avid interest, the Kanes also hold season tickets to the OHIO volleyball team.

“I’ve got my Bobcat plates on my car. I contribute regularly to the college. We’re a Bobcat family,” Kane said.