Ryan Crane Announced as Next Executive Director of NAMI Iowa

The NAMI Iowa Board of Directors is pleased to announce it has selected Ryan Crane as the organization's next Executive Director, beginning November 27, 2023. "I am grateful and honored to be selected as the new leader of NAMI Iowa. There is a lot of work to be done as we seek to improve access to mental health services and resources," Crane said. "NAMI Iowa is at the forefront of an exciting and encouraging trend, as more people now see mental health as an everyday part of their lives, and stigma around the issue is reduced. My background of community leadership and connecting donors to important causes can help propel NAMI Iowa into the future." NAMI Iowa is a statewide organization that provides advocacy, education, and support around today's most important mental health issues. Peggy Huppert, who has served as the organization's Executive Director since 2016, announced early this year that she will retire at the end of 2023. Crane brings significant community-building and leadership expertise to the position. Most recently, he served as Director of Philanthropy for the Des Moines Community Playhouse. Prior to that role, he served in various leadership capacities at the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Primary Health Care, Inc., Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, and One Iowa. Mary Neubauer of Clive, a parent advocate who serves as president of the NAMI Iowa Board, said that Crane was selected as the organization's next executive director after a thorough and methodical search by the Board that began shortly after Huppert announced her retirement. "The NAMI Iowa Board is gratified to have selected such an effective advocate and well-qualified nonprofit executive as our organization's next statewide leader," Neubauer said. "I echo Ryan's sentiments: While Iowa has made progress in recent years in terms of mental health resources, the need for treatment and support has grown all around us. We look forward to working with Ryan to continue this vital conversation." Crane, 39, received a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Northern Iowa and was granted the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) Designation from The American College in Pennsylvania. NAMI Iowa amplifies the voices of people with lived experience with mental health conditions to reduce stigma and ensure that all Iowans have access to the support and treatment they deserve in an equitable and inclusive environment. As the need for mental health prevention, support, and treatment in Iowa grows, Crane will help to expand NAMI's work in these areas. Local NAMI information The next NAMI Northeast Iowa Connection Recovery Support Group meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.- 8 p.m. in Spectrum Network's "The Kitchen," located at 200 Railroad Street in Decorah, Iowa. For more information about NAMI Northeast Iowa, visit https://namineiowa.org/.