Melissa Lucy ʼ99, ʼ01 MEd still remembers the advice of a former University of Lynchburg professor regarding a job opening at Central Community Services, now Horizon Behavioral Health, “If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.”
Twenty-five years later, it’s safe to say Lucy has made it. She is now chief executive officer for Horizon and participates in a number of state and local committees and task forces, including the Crisis Intervention Team Coalition of Central Virginia, of which she is chair.
Lucy has dedicated herself to advancing access to comprehensive mental health and substance abuse services across the region, and she was instrumental in creating Horizon’s Crisis Intervention Program.
“We’ve made significant efforts to reduce barriers to care, particularly for vulnerable populations, including those experiencing homelessness, individuals with serious mental illness, and youth and adults in crisis,” she said.
Lucy has undeniably put in the work to get where she is today. Her resume reads like a list of departments. “I like to joke that I have either done or supervised every position in this organization,” she said.
When Lucy started out as a case manager, she would regularly pivot to a slew of different roles — a day for therapy, a day for intake, a day for walk-ins, and a day for crisis. From there, she went on to perform forensic work for the not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity population and many other roles.
No matter what else she was working on, Lucy always found time for her great passion — helping patients deal with mental health crises.
“Crisis is very much my passion, and every good clinician knows that to serve others you must leave your own feelings and opinions at the door to offer truly unbiased support” she said. “We all must make a commitment to community over self.”
That ethos — to put the needs of others before self — is in lockstep with Lynchburg’s values. Lucy says her time at the University instilled a strong sense of civic responsibility and ethical leadership, whether through service, learning projects, or classroom activities.
“I began at the University of Lynchburg with a clear vision and a personal passion for how I wanted to help others,” she said, “and I left the University with the tools I needed to turn that passion and vision into action. … I left with more than an education. I left with a purpose.”
When she first arrived on campus, Lucy remembers being “young and naive,” but nonetheless outgoing and compassionate.
“One of the most valuable lessons I learned at Lynchburg was the importance of community — how deeply we can grow when we are surrounded by people who challenge, support, and inspire us,” she said.
When asked what public service meant to her, Lucy said, “It’s about using your skills, your time, and your influence for others, especially those who are often unheard and overlooked.”
Giving advice for students considering a career in healthcare, she said, “Stay curious and stay compassionate. Always put others above self. Healthcare is constantly evolving in its ability to adapt to, listen, and lead with empathy.
“It’s always important to understand that your role, no matter how clinical or administrative, impacts lives. Never lose sight of the humanity behind the data.”
