Cassaundra Howell: First Black Woman CEO of Public Health Solutions, NY

Cassaundra Howell named President and CEO of Public Health Solutions, first Black woman to lead NYC’s largest public health nonprofit.

The board selected a longtime operator who’s spent 22+ years building systems, not just plans.

Howell will take the helm January 1, 2026, succeeding Lisa David, whose 30+ years in public health and healthcare shaped PHS for decades.

The announcement came November 24, 2025, signaling a shift toward stronger infrastructure and health equity.

From my position watching this field, Howell’s track record matters.

As Chief Operating Officer, she oversaw HR, IT, Finance, and organization-wide Change Management, and she managed budgets that demand precision at multi-billion-dollar levels.

Her previous work as Partner and CFO at Ichor Strategies, plus roles at the NYS Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery, where she directed discretionary procurement and assisted in managing $4.2 billion in HUD disaster recovery funds, builds a rare blend of public health operations and large-scale financial stewardship.

That combination is exactly what Public Health Solutions needs as it channels funds to more than 200 community-based partners and 444 employees.

PHS is NYC’s largest public health nonprofit, founded in 2005 and based at 40 Worth St, Fl 5.

The organization supports over 200 vommunity partners and directly serves underserved New Yorkers and their families.

Board Member Gerrard Bushell underscored Howell’s fit, noting her “deep operational expertise, strategic vision, and commitment to health equity.”

He framed this as “the beginning of a new era for PHS, one focused on strengthening systems, elevating communities.”

I’d add: that language lines up with what funders and practitioners want, clear governance, measurable impact, and sustainable capacity.

Howell’s background isn’t just operating rooms and budgets.

She’s Bronx-born, with a foundation in public health leadership and financial discipline.

Her education includes a BS in Real Estate and Sustainability from New York University and an MSc in Finance from Pace University.

This combination signals a leadership style that treats health outcomes as anchored in strong financial and operational mechanics.

In terms of context, this is a leadership transition that happens once in a generation for a large nonprofit.

Lisa David’s 30+ years in public health and healthcare, including her roles at Planned Parenthood Federation of America and Columbia University’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, established a high bar.

Howell faces the task of preserving continuity while accelerating system-wide improvements.

Her appointment will require rapid wins in program alignment, talent development, and data-driven performance tracking to meet the needs of 200+ partner organizations and the communities they serve.

From a stakeholder lens, expect a focus on three areas: 1) strengthen internal systems, finance, HR, IT, procurement, so grants and services flow more efficiently; 2) scale partnerships with community-based organizations to expand reach and improve health outcomes; 3) advance health equity with clear metrics and accountability that funders can audit.

Public Health Solutions’ 2025 revenue sits around $56.4 million, a size that demands disciplined execution to translate funding into measurable health gains.

Author’s note: Based on my experience, leadership at this scale works best when the CEO can translate complex budgets into concrete program results, and when the COO can convert strategy into reliable operations.

Howell’s background in disaster recovery and large-scale procurement suggests she’ll push for tighter controls, closer alignment between program goals and financials, and more rigorous change-management practices.

Keys:

Howell becomes the first Black woman to lead PHS, bringing 22+ years of executive public health experience and $4.2 billion managed in disaster recovery funds to the table.

The organization aims to focus on strengthening systems and improving communities, with the intention of increasing operational discipline and expanding its impact to more than 200 community partners.

Cassaundra Howell will begin as CEO on January 1, 2026, with the primary goal of stabilizing and optimizing the organization’s core functions, in addition to maintaining and expanding its overall public health mission.

Sources:

• https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cassaundra-howell-named-president–ceo-of-public-health-solutions-302624630.html

• https://www.healthsolutions.org/blog/cassaundra-howell-named-president-ceo-of-public-health-solutions/

• https://www.healthsolutions.org/about-us/our-leadership/senior-leadership-team/

• https://www.prnewswire.com/news/public-health-solutions/

• https://rocketreach.co/public-health-solutions-profile_b5c20a53f42e0eb6

Cathy Reyes

CEO of The Dot Blog. I can bring a lot to the table about leadership and team management as a media network has a lot of this.
During my career I have spent most of my time working in teams and managing one, so I like to share with others how companies and leaders in the business world manage their teams and what are the strategies to be a good leader.