Rebecca Kiessling

Both a peer and a family member, Kiessling brings to NAMI her decades of lived experience, her dedication to strengthening the NAMI Alliance, and expertise in strategic communications, citizen advocacy, leadership, and grassroots coalition building. A passionate advocate, Kiessling has been asked to testify before Congress, present at national and local conferences, and give keynote addresses on topics such as grassroots advocacy, domestic violence and survivorship, female mentorship, and mental wellness. Kiessling has dedicated her work with NAMI Northern Virginia to growing the organization to further serve the communities Northern Virginia, to increase access for all with mental health needs, and to build a model of cultural competency where the residents of one of the most diverse areas in the country receive mental health support and education from people with similar backgrounds and life experiences.

She received the SAMMY Award for leadership during the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial l, MENTOR’s Excellence in Mentoring Award, and the Live Healthy Fairfax award for excellence in mental health. Additionally, NAMI Northern Virginia was recognized as the 2025 NAMI Outstanding Affiliate of the Year.

A long-time resident of Northern Virginia and mom of three girls, Kiessling is a certified peer recovery specialist and holds degrees from George Washington University and Georgetown University, and a certificate in Leadership and Management from Harvard Business School.