Sandy Olson is a native Houstonian. She holds a doctorate in public health from the University of Texas School of Public Health, with a specialization in health promotion and behavioral sciences. She is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor and is both a Certified Prevention Specialist and Certified Health Education Specialist. From 1986 to 2003, Sandy worked in mental health and intellectual & developmental disabilities program management and administration. Since completing her doctorate in 2006, she has been with the Coalition for Behavioral Health (CBH) and serves as their Executive Director. CBH has received local honors and national attention for its prevention work in Houston. As a person in recovery and on behalf of the CBH, Sandy advocates for improved drug prevention and long-term recovery outcomes for the community. She has been significantly involved with the Houston Recovery Initiative since its inception in 2010. Sandy was an active member of the Houston Chapter TAAP (Texas Association of Addiction Professionals) from 2011-2019. In 2017, she was named by TAAP as state “Addiction Professional of the Year."