Marie Wenzel is the Executive Director of NAMI Delaware, where she leads the organization’s strategic vision, advocacy efforts, partnerships, fundraising, and statewide impact initiatives. A social worker, nonprofit executive, and systems-change leader, Marie brings more than 15 years of experience advancing mental health, community well-being, and organizational growth.

Since joining NAMI Delaware, Marie has focused on strengthening the organization’s capacity, expanding its reach, and advancing programs that support individuals and families affected by mental health conditions. Under her leadership, NAMI Delaware continues to champion mental health awareness, peer-led support, public policy advocacy, affordable housing initiatives, and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) training in partnership with law enforcement agencies across the state.

Prior to NAMI Delaware, Marie served as the founding Executive Director of Hand2Paw, where she built and scaled a workforce development program supporting underrepresented youth through animal welfare and social-emotional learning.

Earlier in her career, Marie led the growth and expansion of the PEACE Program at Horizon House, one of Pennsylvania’s leading early psychosis intervention programs. She oversaw multidisciplinary teams, expanded access to evidence-based services for young adults experiencing first-episode psychosis, strengthened clinical and operational infrastructure, and helped position the program as a model for coordinated specialty care. Her work focused on translating emerging research into sustainable community-based practice, improving outcomes for individuals and families navigating the onset of serious mental illness.

Marie holds a Master of Social Work from Temple University and has contributed to academic research on early psychiatric intervention. She is passionate about building strong organizations, developing future leaders, and creating systems that help individuals, families, and communities thrive.