Burrell Behavioral Health names Keke Rover as System Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Rover will be involved in the full scope of employment and care within the organization, ensuring the best employee, client and community experience.
After several months of searching, Burrell Behavioral Health is proud to announce and welcome its next DEI leader – Marquisa (Keke) Rover – who began her role as Burrell Behavioral Health’s System Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on Tuesday, July 6.
Rover comes to Burrell from Ambassadors for Children where she served as the director for nearly four years. She has also held positions at Preferred Family Healthcare, Isabel’s House, and Boys and Girls Club of Springfield. Through her roles with each organization, Rover has indirectly led Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts for most of her career – creating trainings, connecting with community partners and being a voice for the underrepresented.
“I am fully invested in this community,” Rover said. “I know what’s it’s like to feel misunderstood and isolated because of someone else’s biases. I want to be a part of change and creating safe space for all. Burrell is committed to doing that work.”
In her new position, Rover will complete a thorough assessment of Burrell’s current DEI status and will then begin making recommendations for updating, finalizing and overseeing the company’s DEI strategic plan. She will be involved in the full scope of employment and care within the organization, ensuring the best employee, client and community experience.
Burrell Behavioral Health is dedicated to serving and celebrating all people, all year long. The Community Mental Health Center values diversity and inclusion among the people it serves and employs.
“Our philosophy at Burrell is that all people deserve a fulfilling career path and access to competent care in a safe, informed and respectful environment,” said President and CEO C.J. Davis. “We aim to improve the overall experience for everyone in our communities, with the hope of positively affecting change. We believe that will be possible with Keke leading diversity and inclusion efforts across our system.”
Burrell first committed to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2018 when the Diversity and Inclusion role (as it was then titled) was established with the hiring of Dr. Shelly Farnan. Farnan, who is now Burrell’s Vice President of Be Well Initiatives, said Rover’s relationship-building skills and strategic thinking are unmatched.
“Mental health wellness is not possible when we do not feel accepted or supported as our truest selves. For the people within our organization as well as those seeking care from us, inclusion is vitally important,” Farnan said. “I am absolutely thrilled to imagine the belonging and healing that will be made possible through Keke’s visionary leadership.”
Farnan said Rover is the perfect person to drive Burrell’s DEI mission moving forward, as her relationship-building skills are unmatched and she is not afraid to have courageous conversations for necessary change.
Media Contact: Matt Lemmon, Director of Communications, 417-415-1386, matthew.lemmon@burrellcenter.com
About Burrell Behavioral Health:
Burrell Behavioral Health is one of the largest community behavioral health providers in the nation, working with more than 40,000 clients 25 counties across Missouri and Arkansas. Burrell has more than 400 licensed providers offering a full continuum of care through our integrated network. Services include individual therapy and counseling, addiction recovery, psychiatric and medication management, educational and therapeutic groups, crisis intervention, medication-assisted treatment, adult stabilization, case management, residential treatment, autism, diagnostic testing and evaluations and developmental disability support. Learn more about Burrell’s programs and services at www.burrellcenter.com.
