RWJF Names Camille M. Busette, PhD, as Executive Vice President, Programs 

PRINCETON—The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) announced today that Camille M. Busette, PhD, will join the organization as executive vice president, Programs, where she will lead the Foundation’s programs, grantmaking, and impact investing. An integral member of the Foundation’s Executive Leadership Team, Dr. Busette will drive RWJF’s programmatic work alongside grantees as we work to transform health in our lifetime.

“It is with great excitement and anticipation that we welcome Dr. Camille Busette to the Foundation,” said Richard Besser, MD, president and CEO of the Foundation. “Her professional journey is characterized by an unwavering commitment to equity, the elevation of community voices, and transformative systems change. Dr. Busette’s values-driven approach to leadership and dedication to innovation and social impact will sharpen RWJF’s work and help us to be even bolder as we pave the way, together, to a future where health is no longer a privilege, but a right."

Dr. Busette brings to RWJF a wealth of experience spanning research, policy, global development, and the private sector. Most recently, she served as vice president of Governance Studies and director of the Race, Prosperity, and Inclusion Initiative at the Brookings Institution, where she led cross-program strategies focused on advancing equity, racial justice, and economic mobility for low-income communities and communities of color.

Dr. Busette has dedicated her career to dismantling systemic inequities, amplifying underrepresented perspectives, and leading innovative strategies to strengthen community resilience and power.

"It is a tremendous honor to join the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and I am eager to support its ongoing mission to foster greater equity across communities,” said Dr. Busette. “Throughout my career, I have been driven by the belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to thrive, free from systemic barriers and inequities. I am eager to collaborate with the dedicated team at RWJF, our partners, and the communities we serve to champion bold, innovative solutions that lead to meaningful change.”

During her tenure at Brookings, Dr. Busette’s initiatives addressed structural racism, promoted the economic advancement of Black and Indigenous people, highlighted the importance of social relationships in fostering economic mobility, and advanced equity in healthcare and government policy at both local and state levels. 

Prior to joining Brookings, Dr. Busette led the financial inclusion innovation arm of the World Bank and collaborated on product development, regulation, data management, and cybersecurity. As the inaugural CEO of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Office of Financial Education, she initiated foundational research on financial wellbeing and contributed as a member of both the Policy and Executive Management teams. Dr. Busette held executive roles at PayPal, Intuit, and NextCard, is a Public Governor of FINRA, and worked with organizations like SaverLife and the Center for American Progress to support low-income communities.

Dr. Busette earned her Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts degrees in political science from the University of Chicago and received her bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley. She will officially join the Foundation on August 4, 2025.

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.