b'Joan MikulaDoctor of Humane Letters, honoris causaOver the course of her 35-year tenure with The Massachusetts Department of Mental Healthwhich culminated in 2015 upon being appointed Commissioner, a position she held until her retirement in 2020Joan influenced public policy and created pathways toward success for individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Joans legacy of commitment, creativity, passion, and advocacy began in New Jersey as a teacher of students with special needs and continued in myriad localeson the streets of Philadelphia as a probation officer working with young female offenders; within a locked residential facility in New York supporting young heroin addicts; and on Bostons North Shore, as the head of a not-for-profit youth and family agency. Buoyed by an unwavering belief in the individuals potential for change and growth, Joan herself grew to see mental health challenges as common threads at the heart of social injustice and that government policies and practices held the power to make a difference in the lives of individuals, families, and communities.As a leader in the fight for mental health parity, Joan witnessed sweeping change over the course of three decades. Major practice and policy changes run the gamut from shifting inpatient treatment to community care and creating a Race, Equity, and Inclusion agenda. Today, her advocacy continues at a community level where she is newly active with the Newton Wellesley Hospital Heart, Health and Wellness Council and consults with the Massachusetts Association of Mental Health on the Pediatric Behavioral Health Urgent Care Project. 5'