Vera French Community Mental Health Center has named Deanna Solis, LISW, as its new Chief Operating Officer. Solis officially joined Vera French on November 2, 2026.

Solis brings 30 years of behavioral health and human-services experience to the position. As Vera French Chief Operating Officer, she will help guide operations, support staff, strengthen services, and advance the organization’s mission.

Before joining Vera French, Solis served as Director of Clinical Services at Eagle View Behavioral Health. There, she oversaw clinical operations for a 72-bed inpatient psychiatric hospital. She also led program development, performance-improvement efforts, regulatory compliance, and accreditation activities.

In addition, Solis supervised a large team of clinical professionals. Her experience combines clinical knowledge with a strong understanding of organizational operations and quality improvement.

“Deanna’s depth of behavioral health experience, executive leadership background, and operational expertise make her exceptionally well suited for this role,” said Richard K. Whitaker, Jr., Ph.D., CEO of Vera French. “She combines strong clinical knowledge with the strategic and operational judgment needed to support our programs, staff, and continued growth. Her collaborative and transparent leadership approach also aligns well with Vera French’s values and organizational culture.”

Earlier in her career, Solis spent 16 years with Bethany for Children & Families. Her roles included serving as Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer.

In that position, Solis led clinical-service operations across several counties in Iowa and Illinois. She managed a $5 million annual operating budget and oversaw satellite clinics. She also contributed to organizational strategy, finance, accreditation, and board planning.

Solis earned a master’s degree in social work and bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology from St. Ambrose University. She is independently licensed to practice and to supervise or mentor master’s-level clinicians. In addition, she has certifications in performance and quality improvement and intensive accreditation training.

“I am honored to join Vera French and contribute to an organization with such a longstanding commitment to accessible, high-quality mental health care,” Solis said. “I look forward to learning from the staff, building relationships across the organization, and working together to strengthen services, support the workforce, and advance Vera French’s mission.”

Solis joins Vera French during a planned leadership transition. Denise Beenk, the organization’s current Chief Operating Officer, will remain with Vera French through the end of 2026. During that time, Beenk will support Solis’s onboarding and help transfer institutional knowledge.

The transition period will also provide continuity as Solis becomes familiar with Vera French programs, operations, staff, and organizational priorities.

“Denise’s leadership, expertise, and dedication to serving our clients have made a lasting positive impact throughout Vera French,” Whitaker said. “We are grateful that Denise will continue working with us through the end of the year to help ensure a thoughtful and effective transition.”