Avery Brien

Avery Brien is an experienced professional in behavioral health initiatives and policy advocacy, currently serving as the Manager of Behavioral Health Initiatives at the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since October 2022. Previously, as Senior State Advocacy Manager at Community Catalyst, Brien focused on youth mental health and substance use care, managing advocacy projects and overseeing campaigns. Experience also includes roles such as Research Coordinator at the Center for Social Innovation, where Brien guided efforts to end family homelessness, and a Policy Analyst Fellow at the Mayor's Office of Women's Advancement in Boston, where an economic justice report was developed. Earlier positions involved recruitment and community partnerships at the Big Sister Association, protected areas management in the Peace Corps, and writing for The New Hampshire at the University of New Hampshire. Avery Brien holds a Master of Public Policy from the Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of New Hampshire.