Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Board Elects Starsky D. Wilson, DMin, MDiv, as Next Chair of the Board of Trustees 

Princeton, N.J.—The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation announced today the designation of Starsky D. Wilson, DMin, MDiv, as the next chair of its Board of Trustees. Rev. Dr. Wilson, who has served as a Trustee since 2020, will become the Foundation’s eighth chair, and the first Black person and faith leader to chair the Board in the Foundation’s 52-year history. He succeeds Kathryn S. Fuller, JD, whose term will expire on January 29, 2025. 

Rev. Dr. Wilson is president and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) and CDF Action Council. Since 1973, CDF has worked to advance child-centered public policies and envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their wellbeing, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive.

“I am thrilled to welcome Rev. Dr. Wilson as the next Board chair of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,” said Rich Besser. MD, president and CEO of RWJF. "He brings a legacy of inspired leadership and transformative policies that have enhanced the health of children and communities. His dynamic vision will be instrumental in driving our mission forward and ensuring a future where health is no longer a privilege but a right."

“Rev. Dr. Wilson is an impressively skilled and visionary leader,” said Kathryn S. Fuller, RWJF Board chair. “Not only has he driven equitable change throughout his lifetime, but he also brings deep experience in board governance. I look forward to working closely with him over the coming months.” 

About the New Chair 

Before joining CDF in 2020, Dr. Wilson was president and CEO of Deaconess Foundation, a faith-based philanthropy for child wellbeing and racial justice in St. Louis. During most of his time at Deaconess, he also served as pastor of St. John’s Church, a multiracial congregation in the city. 

Under his leadership, Deaconess constructed and established the Deaconess Center for Child Well-Being, a community action tank engaging more than 15,000 citizens annually. After the 2014 police killing of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Mo., Dr. Wilson was named co-chair of the Ferguson Commission, which released the “Forward Through Ferguson: A Path Toward Racial Equity” report that called for sweeping changes in policing and the courts and for improved child wellbeing systems and economic mobility.

Rev. Dr. Wilson is chair of the Board of Visitors for Duke Divinity School. He previously served as board chair for the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy and the Forum for Theological Exploration.

He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Xavier University of Louisiana, a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Duke University.

"I am honored to serve the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and my colleagues on the Board of Trustees at this critical time for achieving health equity for children and families in America,” Rev. Dr. Wilson said. “RWJF is leading the field of philanthropy in confronting structural racism as an impediment to health and its tradition of healthy governance helps to make this possible. I'm pleased to partner with Dr. Besser and the board to continue this progress.” 

About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

RWJF is a leading national philanthropy dedicated to taking bold leaps to transform health in our lifetime. Through funding, convening, advocacy, and evidence-building, we work side-by-side with communities, practitioners, and institutions to get to health equity faster and pave the way together to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right.