Matt Davison

Chief Executive Officer 
He/Him/His

Matthew (Matt) Davison serves as the Chief Executive Officer of NAMI Chicago. Davison is a nationally recognized advocate and attorney who has dedicated his career to advancing mental health law and policy.

He has represented thousands of individuals with lived experience across the behavioral health continuum. Davison has worked closely with providers, hospitals, and crisis workers at the intersection of health care and the law. In 2020, NAMI Chicago honored him with its Light the Darkness award for his community advocacy.

Davison’s leadership includes serving as Chairperson of the Chicago Bar Association’s Mental Health and Disability Law Committee, presenting at community and professional forums, and drafting state legislation to improve access to behavioral health care in Illinois. He has also been previously appointed to various governmental committees focused on mental health equity and served on a dedicated task force convened by the Illinois Supreme Court aimed at improving access to justice. His scholarship on mental health and advocacy has been a frequent resource for community partners and practitioners. He currently serves as adjunct faculty at the UIC School of Law.

He earned his undergraduate degree from Virginia Wesleyan College, his J.D. from the John Marshall Law School (now UIC School of Law), and an M.A. from the Naval Postgraduate School, where he received awards for academic excellence. He lives in Chicago with his wife and two daughters.