One might say Deja Gilbert, Ph.D, MBA, FACHE, LPC, LMHC has the entire alphabet after her name and that’s for good reason. For the two-time CHC alumna (M.S. in Counseling Psychology, 2004 and MBA in Strategic Management, 2025), lifelong learning has never been optional—it’s essential.
The decision to pursue an MBA might have seemed unusual to some. After all, she already held a Ph.D. in counseling psychology and had spent 25 years building a distinguished career in behavioral healthcare. But for Gilbert, who now serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Gaudenzia (the first female to, one of the largest nonprofit drug and alcohol treatment and recovery centers in the United States, the choice reflected a core philosophy that guides both her professional and personal life. “The MBA was the elephant. It’s the one thing that I never got,” Gilbert explains. “And I am adamant that we have to continue educating ourselves—in any position, no matter how much you’ve achieved.”
It was that commitment to lifelong learning that brought Gilbert back to Chestnut Hill College, where she earned her masters decades earlier. Despite already having one master’s degree and a Ph.D., when Gilbert discovered that Chestnut Hill was launching a new MBA program, she didn’t hesitate.
“A couple of my peers said, ‘Why are you going back to school? Why are you getting a master’s degree when you already have a doctorate degree?’” Gilbert recalls with a smile. “I tell all of my team—and anyone I mentor—— that leadership requires continual learning. You have to keep learning and evolving and use that knowledge to be better and to help other people to be better.”
Leading with Compassion
Today, as the first-ever female CEO of Gaudenzia—a 57-year-old behavioral healthcare organization—Gilbert leads a team of 1,400 employees across 120 programs and 50+ facilities operating in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, and Washington, D.C. The organization’s mission resonates deeply with her values: providing high-quality care to those who need it most. “We treat the neediest population—the individuals who can’t typically seek services on their own, who don’t have the financial ability to get the best counselors, to get the best doctors,” Gilbert explains.
“For me, that’s exactly where I needed to be,” she says. “If you can find one thing to do with your life, and that one thing is helping other people, I think we’re doing okay.”
Supporting the Next Generation of Nurses
Under Gilbert’s leadership, Gaudenzia has strengthened its partnerships with academic institutions, including a renewed relationship with Chestnut Hill College and its new nursing program. The partnership reflects a shared commitment to preparing healthcare professionals for the realities of modern care—particularly in complex, community-based behavioral health settings.
The nursing partnership with CHC holds special significance. “One of our biggest challenges in behavioral healthcare is that we will have someone who has the credentials for the position, but when they come into the position, they’re not prepared,” Gilbert notes. “When I first learned that Chestnut Hill College was going to take this nursing program and actually use real, applicable experiences, I said, ‘How can I help?’”
The collaboration addresses both the national nursing shortage and the need for better-prepared healthcare professionals. Gaudenzia’s nurses work across multiple care levels, from 24/7 medical monitoring in detoxification units to community-based care coordination, serving clients who often struggle with co-morbid conditions like diabetes and heart disease alongside addiction.
“We Have to Pair What We Learn in School with the Real World”
Receiving the Distinguished Achievement Alumni Award from Chestnut Hill College marked a turning point in Gilbert’s relationship with her alma mater. “I looked at everyone I could find that had already achieved this award, and I thought to myself, these women or these men have done amazing things,” she recalls. “Even 25 years into my career, it’s still a very big accomplishment.” The recognition rekindled her connection with the College. “That’s really the moment that I started reconnecting with Chestnut Hill,” she says. Soon after, she joined the board of nursing and deepened her involvement with the institution.
For students considering careers in behavioral healthcare or social services, Gilbert offers straightforward guidance: combine academic learning with real-world experience. “Make sure that you’re learning as much as you can while you’re going through your academic training, and then if you have any opportunity to engage in the environments that you hope to work in, take it,” she advises. “Whether it’s volunteering, whether it’s a weekend opportunity, whatever that looks like. We have to pair what we learn in school with the real world.”
She’s equally emphatic about the importance of continued education at every career stage. “I tell my staff all the time, regardless of where they’re at in their career, ‘What are you reading today? What are you learning about today?’” Gilbert says. “It is so important to continue to grow your mind and grow your skills and grow your ability.”
Ultimately, Gilbert’s success stems from a simple but profound commitment to community. “With any organization that is involved with people—which is pretty much all of them—we have to work together. We have to actually be in a community,” she reflects.
It’s a philosophy rooted in the psychological foundation she gained at Chestnut Hill College—one that continues to guide her work today. “Quite honestly, every interaction in the business world is one of psychology,” Gilbert notes. “I use my background in psychology that I received at Chestnut Hill College through my master’s degree program in everything I do.”
As she leads Gaudenzia into its next chapter, Gilbert embodies the College’s mission of developing leaders who transform their communities. Her journey—from student to distinguished alumna to CEO—demonstrates that the pursuit of knowledge and the commitment to service are not separate paths, but complementary forces in a life well lived.
– Robert Bogdon