Introducing Kristie Bardell, CEO

Every Body Texas welcomes a leader in health improvement initiatives

Every Body Texas is excited to announce Kristie Bardell as the new CEO of Every Body Texas. With over 20 years of experience leading health improvement initiatives, Kristie has dedicated her career to reducing socioeconomic and health inequalities.

Kristie’s work has spanned the nonprofit and government sectors, focusing on building programs, fostering community engagement, and driving policy changes that address structural and social determinants of health. Her leadership reflects a commitment to equity, intersectionality, and creating thriving communities. Much of her work has been based in a neighboring state.

“I’m deeply honored to join Every Body Texas and bring my experiences from Louisiana to this critical work in Texas. Addressing sexual and reproductive health requires bold action, especially in a state where access is increasingly challenged," Kristie said. "I’m prepared to listen, learn, and lead alongside our incredible team and partners to ensure every person in Texas has access to the high-quality, unbiased care they deserve.”

Members of the board and staff worked diligently to select Kristie for this role.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am thrilled to welcome Kristie as the new CEO of Every Body Texas,” said Board Chair William West. “After an extensive search, we are confident that Kristie’s exceptional leadership, deep expertise in health equity, and unwavering commitment to the wellbeing of all people make her the ideal person to guide our organization forward. Her proven ability to build impactful programs and drive systemic change will be invaluable as we continue to champion sexual and reproductive healthcare for every Texan.”
 

More than 20 Years of Excellence

Kristie brings over 20 years of experience as a trailblazer in developing and implementing health improvement initiatives. Throughout her career, her passion has been focused on reducing socioeconomic and health inequalities. She has led family health initiatives in both the nonprofit and government sectors and has extensive experience in building capacity around programming, clinical services, community engagement, health equity, and policy change to create thriving communities.

Kristie brings cross-sector experience to establish practices that promote a deeper understanding of intersectionality in content, skills, and community. Her leadership emphasizes reducing disparities within underserved communities through a structural and social determinants of health lens. Prior to joining Every Body Texas, Kristie served as the Executive Director of the Children’s Coalition for Northeast Louisiana, where she worked to improve educational outcomes by addressing the social, emotional, and developmental well-being of families. She also worked at the Louisiana Public Health Institute, where she advanced the organization’s strategic direction by developing national and regional partnerships to drive collective action and improve health outcomes. Additionally, she has worked at the Louisiana Department of Health, focusing on improving maternal, infant, and child mortality and morbidity rates by providing statewide leadership to build public health capacity.

Kristie has served on numerous boards, including the Southern Center for Maternal Health Equity, the 4th Judicial District Youth Service Planning Board, the Louisiana School-Based Health Alliance, the Community Impact Committee for United Way Southeast Louisiana, and the City of New Orleans Children and Youth Planning Board: Childhood Trauma Task Force. Her successes include being named a 2022 Bayou Icon by BayouLife Magazine, being a published author in the American Journal of Sexuality Education, strategizing on the passage of equitable health policies by collaborating with multi-sector partners, and developing thriving communities through resource allocation and programmatic investments.

Kristie holds a Master of Public Health from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana. As a native of Louisiana and a passionate strategist, she continues to carve a pathway toward health for all.