Devin Woods

Devin Woods joined the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in 2021. He has a wide range of experience in designing programs and developing networks that connect people with resources. Devin supports RWJF’s pioneering work advancing health equity by exploring and promoting emerging trends and cutting-edge ideas. He is a firm believer in the Foundation’s work with innovators, both inside and outside of health, in identifying emerging trends that can accelerate progress toward building a Culture of Health. As he puts it: “I’m all about supporting collaborations between diverse actors to reach lasting change in health and healthcare.”

Previously, Devin served as a senior program officer with Big Bad Boo Productions (BBB), a media company devoted to producing children’s educational entertainment. BBB’s programs reach more than 100 million viewers yearly with films, television shows, games, comic books, and academic curricula that promote civic values such as gender equality, critical thinking, non-violence, empathy, diversity and inclusion, and lessons on the rule of law. In this role, he developed innovative educational programs and cutting-edge evaluation tools to measure non-cognitive learning.

Earlier, he served as senior program officer for the Canadian Executive Service Organization (CESO). CESO focuses on both private sector development and strengthening institutions, and Devin managed a portfolio of 70 educational, economic development, and capacity-strengthening projects annually. His work with CESO focused chiefly on the needs of Indigenous communities across Canada.

In other roles, Devin supported the One-in-Three art exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. This large-scale wooden installation, by Canadian artist Carey Jernigan, highlights the prevalence of violence against women and girls as well as the strength in community that comes from survivors’ connection to those around them.

Born in Barrie, Ontario, Devin lives in New York City. He earned his BA in political science from the University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada, and his Post Graduate Certificate in International Development Program Management from Humber College, Toronto, Canada. He was also a finalist in the 2016 World Economic Forum’s Global Leadership Fellows (GLF) program and holds a certificate in Indigenous Awareness.

In his spare time, he enjoys running, hiking, watching science fiction films, exploring New York City, and collaborating with his partner to design fine furniture for their future home.