Helene D. Gayle (born August 16, 1955) is an American physician, and academic and non-profit administrator. She was president of Spelman College until 2024.Insight Staff (November 26, 2024). Spelman College Announces President’s Official Resignation. Insight Into Diversity. She formerly was CEO of the Chicago Community Trust, one of the nation's leading community foundations. Earlier in her career she was the director of international humanitarian organization CARE, and spent much of her career in the field of public health research in epidemiology at the CDC.
Early life and education Helene Gayle was born in Buffalo, New York, to Jacob Astor Gayle,DR. HELENE GAYLE. The History Makers. https://www.thehistorymakers.org/biography/dr-helene-gayle-41#:~:text=Moving%20back%20to%20Buffalo%2C%20Gayle,degree%20in%20psychology a small-business owner, and Marietta Spiller Dabney Gayle, a social worker. She attended Court Street Elementary School and Lancaster Middle School in Lancaster, New York, and in Buffalo, graduated with honors from Woodlawn Junior High School and Bennett High School (Class of 1972). After high school, Gayle attended Baldwin-Wallace College and Barnard College of Columbia University, from which she received a B.A. degree with honors in psychology in 1976. She earned an M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and an M.P.H. at Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health (now the Bloomberg School).
Gayle is board certified in pediatrics, having completed a residency in pediatric medicine at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Gayle completed a second residency in preventive medicine at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Career Beginning in 1984, Gayle spent 20 years with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), focusing on global health and infectious disease prevention and control, especially HIV/AIDS. On assignment from CDC from 1992 to 1994, Gayle was the AIDS coordinator and chief of the HIV/AIDS Division at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In 1995, she was appointed as the first director of the newly created National Center on HIV, TB and STD Prevention (NCHSTP). During that time, she was named an Assistant Surgeon General and Rear Admiral in the United States Public Health Service.
Initially on loan from the CDC, she directed the HIV, TB, and Reproductive Health Program at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation from 2001 to 2006. During her 5 years as director, she was responsible for research, policy, public awareness, and programs on HIV/AIDS, TB, STDs and reproductive health around the world.
Gayle was president and CEO of the international humanitarian organization CARE from 2006 to 2015. She led efforts to empower girls and women around the world to bring lasting change to poor communities. Under her leadership, CARE strengthened its focus on advocacy efforts and policy work to have a long-term impact on reducing poverty across the globe. Under her leadership, Gayle introduced signature programs that focused on financial inclusion, maternal health and improving girls' access to quality primary education.
From 2015 to 2017, Gayle was president and CEO of McKinsey Social Initiative (now McKinsey.org), a nonprofit that brings together diverse stakeholders to address complex global social challenges.
In 2017, Gayle became CEO of the Chicago Community Trust (the Trust), one of the nation's oldest and largest community foundations. Under her leadership, the trust adopted a new strategic focus on closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap in the Chicago region. The three-part strategy to close this gap centers around growing household wealth, catalyzing neighborhood investment and building collective power. Gayle is recognized internationally as an expert on health, global development, and humanitarian issues. She was named one of Forbes' "100 Most Powerful Women," one of NonProfit Times' "Power and Influence Top 50," and of Chicago Magazine's "Chicago's 50 Most Powerful Women." She been featured by media outlets like The New York Times, The Washington Post, ForbesWoman, Glamour, O magazine, National Public Radio, and CNN.
Gayle has received 18 honorary degrees and held affiliate and adjunct faculty appointments at the University of Washington and Emory University She has published numerous scientific articles on global and domestic public health issues, poverty alleviation, gender equality, and social justice.
On July 1, 2022, Gayle began her tenure as president of Spelman College, succeeding Mary Schmidt Campbell. Past Presidents: Helene D. Gayle, MD, MPH. Spelman College. In 2024, she resigned as Spelman president.
On May 23, 2024, Gayle was among the guests invited to the state dinner hosted by U.S. President Joe Biden in honor of President William Ruto at the White House.Minho Kim (23 May 2024), The Full Guest List for Biden’s State Dinner With Kenya New York Times.
Other activities Corporate boards
Palo Alto Networks, Effective May 25, 2021 Coca-Cola, 2013 – present Colgate-Palmolive Board, 2010 – present
Non-profit organisations Center for Strategic and International Studies Board of Trustees, 2007 – present ONE Board, 2006 – present Rockefeller Foundation Board of Trustees, 2009 – present Brookings Institution, 2015–present New America, 2013 – present Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, Board Chair, 2019 – 2022 Economic Club of Chicago , 2019 – Inter-American Dialogue, 2018 – present
Professional society memberships Council on Foreign Relations Institute of Medicine Delta Omega Society American Public Health Association National Medical Association American Medical Women's Association Society for Public Health Education
Recognition Honorary degrees American University, Doctor of Science, 2018 Xavier University of Louisiana, Doctor of Science, 2016 University of Buffalo, Doctor of Science, 2016 University of Miami, Doctor of Science, 2013 Oberlin College, Doctor of Science, 2011 Colby College, Doctor of Humane Letters, 2010 Columbia University, Doctor of Laws, 2009 Agnes Scott College, Doctor of Science, 2009 Brandeis University, Doctor of Humane Letters, 2008 Morehouse School of Medicine, Doctor of Science, 2008 Mount Sinai School of Medicine of New York University, Doctor of Humane Letters, 2008 Duke University, Doctor of Science, 2008Duke University Meharry Medical College, Doctor of Science 2007 Smith College, Doctor of Science, 2007 Pennsylvania State University, Doctor of Science, 2004 Jackson State University, Doctor of Humane Letters, 2004
Awards and honors Teachers College, Columbia University, Medal for Distinguished Service, 2018 Johns Hopkins University Society of Scholars, inducted 2017 American Public Health Association Presidential Citation Award, 2015 WNBA Inspiration Award, 2015 Jimmy and Rosslyn Carter Humanitarian Award, National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, 2012 Forbes Magazine 100 Most Powerful Women, 2014 The NonProfit Times Power and Influence Top 50, 2011 Bryn Mawr College, Katharine Hepburn Award, 2011 AARP Inspire Award, 2010 Bennett High Alumni Honor Roll, 2010 Georgia State University, Ethics Advocate Award, 2009 Business to Business Magazine, Women of Excellence Award, 2009 100 Most Influential Atlantans Award, 2009 Ivan Allen College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage, 2009 South African Partners, Desmond Tutu Award, 2009 Morehouse College, Coca-Cola Leadership Award, 2008 Americans for Informed Democracy, Innovator in International Development Award, 2008 Cable Positive, Humanitarian of the Year Award, 2008 Wall Street Journal, "50 Women to Watch", 2006Chase, Marilyn. "The 50 Women to Watch 2006." The Wall Street Journal [New York, NY] November 20, 2006. Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal, 2006 Helen H. Jackson, Woman of Valor Award, 2006 Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, Leadership in Global Medicine Award, 2005 Women of Color, Health Science & Technology Awards: Medical Leadership in Industry, 2002 National Medical Association, Scroll of Merit Award, 2000 Women Looking Ahead, Inc., The Women Looking Ahead (WLA) 100s List Award, 1999 100 Black Men of America, Inc., Woman of the Year Award, 1999 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Secretary's Award for Distinguished Service, 1999, 2001 Atlanta Business League, Women of Influence Award, 1998 Public Health Service Foreign Duty Award, 1997 Public Health Service Meritorious Service Medal, 1996 Columbia University Medal of Excellence, 1996 National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc., Service Award, 1999 Who's Who Among Black Americans, 1990, 1993 and 1994
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