Terree schmidt-whelan
Dr. Terree Schmidt-Whelan is a native of Seattle, Washington where she still resides, and graduated from Seattle University where she earned her BA in Psychology. Subsequently, she pursued studies in public administration and attained her Ph.D. in Health and Human Services/Forensic Toxicology.
She has devoted her life to behavioral health issues, starting out as a substance use disorder treatment counselor and eventually assuming the role of Executive Director for a large, human services agency, the Pierce County Alliance, in Tacoma, Washington. Under her tenure, the Alliance earned certification from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) and, in conjunction with the Pierce County Drug Court, received the National Association of Drug Court Professionals “Community Transformation Award”.
Over the past two decades, she took on a major role in the early establishment of drug treatment courts both in the county and state-wide, led the organization of the Washington State Association of Drug Court Professionals, and served on the board of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. Because of her dedication and manifold accomplishments, Dr. Schmidt-Whelan was the 2022 recipient of the NADCP’s “Harvey Goldstein Hall of Fame Award” for life-time contributions to the propagation of drug treatment courts.