December 14, 2002
Life's End gets local leader
By GINNY MERRIAM of the Missoulian
National search leads right back to Missoula for institute director
Missoula's Sally Mullen is known as the live wire behind the new Blue Mountain Clinic building, the Pine Street bus transfer station and the strong present-day version of the Missoula YWCA.
Now Mullen is the new executive director of Life's End Institute: Missoula Demonstration Project. The board of the Institute hired Mullen at the end of a national search that began in August.
"Sally's reputation precedes her in Missoula," said Muriel Friedman, a Missoula physician who is board president. "She has this wonderful reputation."
Mullen is an outstanding manager, Friedman said, who is capable of both creating a vision of an organization and carrying it through.
Since the organization's creation in 1996 as the Missoula Demonstration Project, Mullen has watched the Life's End Institute grow and acquire a national reputation. It conducts research about death and dying and works to make Missoula a demonstration community of good quality of life for dying people and their loved ones.
"I just am really impressed with the work they have done," Mullen said. "Their work is really exciting and innovative and creative."
Mullen is known for stepping in to lead nonprofit and community-based agencies that face immediate challenges. She was director of Blue Mountain Clinic three times, the last time after the clinic was destroyed by an arson fire and was building a new high-security facility.
"I like to see myself as a competent manager," she said. "And I see myself as a change agent."
The Institute is different in several ways, Mullen said. It's not a direct service provider. And it's not in crisis. In the past, Mullen has "performed CPR" on organizations that needed it, she said; her new job will use her skills at leading the organization in a number of possible directions.
"This whole movement is burgeoning," she said. "LEI is a leader in that movement nationally. How do we respond to this at the community level and also respond to that national leadership at the same time?"
Mullen will have a learning curve, she said. Issues surrounding the end of life involve families, caretakers, the faith community and more and are very complex. But, she said, she's used to complex organizations and issues, and the staff is smart and creative, "just incredibly bright," she said.
Though she starts the job officially Jan. 2, Mullen is already in the office at 320 E. Main St. getting to know the organization.
"Our vision hasn't changed," Friedman said. "But visions evolve. Sally Mullen has the talents and capability not only of carrying out the vision of the board and staff but helping create vision, too."
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