Helene Gayle
Helene Gayle, M.D., an expert on global development, humanitarian, and health issues, is currently the President of Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, the leader in education of women of African descent. Dr. Gayle’s career spans almost forty years dedicated to eradicating inequities in health and wealth. Most recently she served as the president and CEO of the Chicago Community Trust (2017-2022), one of the nation’s oldest and largest community foundations. Dr. Gayle formerly served as CEO of the McKinsey Social Initiative (2015-2017), a nonprofit organization that implements programs that bring together varied stakeholders to address complex global social challenges, and, for almost a decade (2006-2015), as president and CEO of the Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere (CARE), a leading international humanitarian and global development organization. Prior to her role at CARE, she held senior posts at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as well as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) where she worked for over twenty years. In addition to her public health and economic development experience, Dr. Gayle has significant public company governance experience.
In addition to previously serving on the board of the Colgate Palmolive Company from 2010 – 2021, she currently serves as a director on the boards of The Coca-Cola Company (since 2013), and Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (since 2021).
Dr. Gayle earned her undergraduate degree from Barnard College of Columbia University, her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and her master’s degree in Public Health from The Johns Hopkins University.
