National Academy of Public Administration National Academy of Public Administration
Gail Christopher
Senior Fellow

Gail Christopher

Member Since 1996

Biography

Dr. Gail C. Christopher is an award-winning social change agent and author with expertise in the social determinants of health and well-being and related public policies. A prolific writer and presenter, Dr. Christopher is an author, co-author, and has contributed to 14 books, hundreds of articles, presentations, publications, and more. She is known for her pioneering work to infuse holistic health and diversity concepts into public sector programs and policy discourse. She retired from her role as Senior Advisor and Vice President at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, where she was the driving force behind the America Healing initiative and the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation effort. In 1996 she was elected as a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. She chaired the Board of the Trust for America’s Health from 2012-2022. In 2019, Dr. Christopher became a Senior Scholar with George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and became the Executive Director of the National Collaborative for Health Equity. In 2021, she was elected by the APHA Governing Council to serve as the APHA Honorary Vice President for the United States. In 2023, the American Journal of Health Promotion honored Dr. Christopher as one of the 10 Most Influential Women Scholars in Health Promotion.

History of Employment

Position Division Organization Start End
Vice President for Policy and Senior Advisor W. K. Kellogg Foundation Current
Former Vice President of Health W. K. Kellogg Foundation Current
Vice President Office of Health, Women and Families Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies Current
Guest Scholar The Brookings Institution Current
Executive Director Institute for Government Innovation, John F. Kennedy School of Government Harvard University Current
Co-Chair Advisory Board Alliance for Redesigning Government, National Academy of Public Administration Current
National Director and Creator Americans All: K-12 National Multicultural Educators Training Program Current
Associate for Development and Program Design Information and Services Clearinghouse, School of Divinity Howard University Current
National Director and Principal Architect National Reclaim Our Youth Violence Prevention Program Current
Executive Director Family Resource Coalition of America Current
Member Vice-President's Advisory Commission on Customer Service Current
Executive Director National Collaborative for Health Equity Present

Expertise

Primary Sector

Private
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