Introducing NEDA’s Public Policy Team!
NEDA Public Policy Team
In August, NEDA officially established a full policy team with the appointment of Joslyn P. Smith as Director of Public Policy and Community Relations.
In her role with NEDA, and previously as a consultant, Joslyn is responsible for overseeing federal policy initiatives of the organization—both legislative and regulatory—and incorporating state-level work as it relates to combatting weight discrimination. Prior to working for NEDA as a public policy consultant, Joslyn was Director of Policy & Government Affairs for the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA). Previously, Joslyn was Senior Legislative Assistant for the American Psychological Association’s (APA) Public Interest Government Relations Office in Washington, DC where she led federal policy efforts addressing eating disorders and obesity prevention by bringing a Health At Every Size® perspective to policy discussions. Before her employment at APA, Joslyn served as a congressional intern in the office of then-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, working closely with the Senator’s health staff on issues related to health and mental health. For over almost two decades, Joslyn has been an outspoken advocate in the eating disorders and Health At Every Size® fields, presenting about and advocating for a reevaluation of misconceptions related to health and weight.
Since February 2014, Kerry Donohue has served as NEDA’s Public Policy Manager, where she laid the foundation for the organization’s public policy platform.
In her role as Public Policy Manager, Kerry has worked with advocates across the country on grassroots legislative campaigns at both the state and federal level related to eating disorders awareness, education, early intervention, and access to treatment. Prior to joining NEDA, Kerry was a legislative aide in the New York State Assembly where she worked on legislative strategy and constituent services. She also previously worked on the government affairs team at a law firm where she coordinated multi-state legislative campaigns for a wide array of businesses and organizations, and supported the firm’s State Attorneys General Practice Group. Kerry holds a bachelor’s degree from Quinnipiac University and a master’s degree in public policy.
Chevese Turner, NEDA’s Chief Policy and Strategy Officer, provides leadership and content expertise to NEDA’s public policy team.
Chevese is the founder and former CEO of the Binge Eating Disorder Association (BEDA) which merged with the NEDA in 2018. As part of NEDA’s leadership team, she develops the organizations key policy initiatives, directs its partnerships and communications, and plays a key role in strategic goals and alignment. Chevese is recognized for her expertise around issues involving eating disorders in higher weight bodies and is passionate about changing the conversation around weight and body size. She is dedicated to moving beyond the current dominant weight-focused paradigm to one that is weight inclusive and promotes well-being free from weight stigma and body discrimination. She is also the co-author of the recently published book, Binge Eating Disorder: The Journey to Recovery & Beyond, and contributes regularly to podcasts and the media.
NEDA believes an impactful policy agenda is one that:
- Addresses the spectrum of eating disorders and represents individuals of all genders, ages, races, religions, ethnicities, socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, body shapes, and weights
- Improves access to care for all people affected by eating disorders
- Has an impact on early intervention and eating disorders prevention
- Addresses social inequities
- Builds relationships, brings in partners, and builds a movement
Please feel free to reach out to either Joslyn (jsmith@nationaleatingdisorders.org) or Kerry (kdonohue@nationaleatingdisorders.org) at any time. We would love to hear from you!
