Baltimore, MD – Johns Hopkins University has announced that Dr. Allyson Bear will be Jhpiego’s next president and CEO. She will assume the role on April 1, 2026.

Dr. Bear joins Jhpiego with 25 years of experience in the global health sector, most recently serving as founder and CEO of the Baltimore-based public health consultancy Vennhealth. Throughout her career, she has led strategic and evaluative initiatives that have shaped major global health programs and investments. Notable achievements include revising USAID’s maternal and child health investment frameworks to align with the Sustainable Development Goals, evaluating USAID’s flagship maternal and child health program, and designing a $1 billion successor strategy. In addition, she led the evaluation of the $3.5 billion Feed the Future nutrition portfolio, providing evidence that informed its Congressional reauthorization.

“The throughline of Allyson’s professional trajectory has been a profound commitment to alleviating human suffering and promoting human dignity and health for all—a background that aligns deeply with Jhpiego’s longstanding mission to provide access to lifesaving health care where it is needed most,” said Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels in an email to the Johns Hopkins University community. “She brings a proven track record in strategic growth, innovation, and resource mobilization across the global health, economic development, and humanitarian sectors.”

Dr. Bear began her career focused on global market shaping and scale-up efforts, starting with Gavi’s PneumoADIP and Hib Initiative, where she provided technical assistance to Ministries of Health for vaccine rollout and impact evaluations. From 2009 to 2015, she worked at USAID, leading the development of flagship U.S. Government health initiatives. She has also held leadership positions at Corus International and Abt Associates, managing global health and economic development portfolios across West Africa, francophone Central Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East. Dr. Bear has worked in more than 45 countries worldwide, including 11 years of residence in multiple countries throughout Africa and Asia.

“It has been a privilege to lead Jhpiego over the last 25 years, and I could not be more confident as I pass the baton to Dr. Allyson Bear,” said Dr. Leslie Mancuso, outgoing president and CEO of Jhpiego. “Her commitment to improving global health and her thoughtful, values-driven leadership give me great optimism for the future of the organization.”

Dr. Bear will succeed Dr. Leslie Mancuso, who has led Jhpiego since 2001 and announced her planned retirement in 2024. Under Dr. Mancuso’s leadership, Jhpiego has evolved from an organization with four core programs focused on family planning and cervical cancer prevention into one of the world’s most respected global health entities, now operating in 39 countries.

To learn more about Dr. Bear, read the Johns Hopkins University Hub article here.

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