Howell Wechsler leads FHI 360’s work to improve lives in underserved and disadvantaged communities across the United States. The programs he oversees work to prevent HIV, prevent and manage diabetes, improve early childhood education, strengthen pre-K through 12 education, boost college and career readiness, build skills through workforce development, support international exchanges, and improve the quality of English language instruction around the world.
Wechsler has more than 30 years of experience as an executive and thought leader working at the crossroads of health and education. Before joining FHI 360, he served as chief executive officer of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, where he oversaw one of the nation’s largest school and afterschool health promotion programs.
Previously, Wechsler spent more than 18 years working as a health scientist for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the last nine years of that time as the director of the Division of Adolescent and School Health. His work produced a wealth of data and evidence about child and youth health and risk factors, which has contributed to health promotion programs in schools as well as national and state policies on sexual health, nutrition, social and emotional health, and violence prevention. He began his career in public health during his service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo).
Wechsler earned a doctoral degree in health education from Teachers College at Columbia University, a master’s degree in public health from Columbia University and a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
