National WIC Association

October 12, 2022

National WIC Association Renews Commitment to Health Equity, Welcoming New President and CEO Dr. Jamila Taylor, Maternal and Child Health Policy Expert 

Dr. Jamila Taylor: “I stand ready to help strengthen the Association's work to advance policy solutions that address these challenges and help build the evidence base for our advocacy and education efforts moving forward.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National WIC Association (NWA) announced the selection of Dr. Jamila Taylor (she/her) as the new president and chief executive officer (CEO). Dr. Taylor joins NWA after a three-year tenure as director of health care reform and senior fellow with The Century Foundation (TCF), where she utilized her health policy expertise to combat structural healthcare inequities with special attention to the needs of women, people of color, and other communities at the margins. 

“We’re thrilled to welcome Dr. Jamila Taylor to the National WIC Association as our next president and CEO,” said NWA board president, Paul Throne. “Dr. Taylor’s extensive experience in advancing health equity and social justice, and reducing disparities for birthing families in our nation, will undoubtedly strengthen our mission and reach. Her credentials are unmatched and primed to move NWA toward an even brighter future for everyone served by WIC. ”

Beginning as a congressional staffer leading health and education efforts for Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA), Taylor’s career has been marked by unwavering advocacy for women’s health and an acknowledgment of the influence factors like race and socioeconomic status have on it. Prior to her work at TCF, Taylor served as senior fellow and director of women’s health and rights at the Center for American Progress (CAP), advocating for reproductive justice both domestically and internationally as a senior policy advisor for global non-governmental organization, Ipas.  

“I've worked to advance the health and well-being of women and families for over two decades,” said NWA president and CEO, Dr. Jamila Taylor. “As a national leader in maternal health and health equity, I stand ready to help strengthen the Association's work to advance policy solutions that address these challenges and help build the evidence base for our advocacy and education efforts moving forward.”

For over 30 years, NWA has worked at the intersection of health equity and increasing 

access to nutritious foods for women and children. Not only does Taylor’s selection signal a deepened commitment to the work at the core of the organization’s mission, but also a future-forward intention to meet the needs of WIC families through innovation and broader intersectionality. 

“When women and families thrive, it has a ripple effect on broader communities,” said Taylor. “I will work tirelessly to ensure a nation where all of the women and children who qualify for WIC can readily access the program’s quality nutrition services and the supports they need and deserve. In doing so, NWA will continue to play a crucial role in advancing health equity and addressing the country's vast disparities in maternal and child health outcomes.”

Dr. Taylor holds a bachelor of arts in Political Science from Hampton University and a master of public administration from Virginia Commonwealth University. She earned her doctorate of philosophy in Political Science from Howard University, completing her dissertation on health disparities for Black women and the impact on infant mortality. 

She is slated to begin her new position as NWA president and CEO on November 14, 2022. 

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The National WIC Association (NWA) is the non-profit membership organization for State and local providers of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). NWA is the go-to voice of and for WIC staff at more than 12,000 WIC locations across the country who work to support more than 6.2 million mothers and young children. For over three decades, NWA has worked to build broad, bipartisan consensus for WIC’s programmatic goals and public health mission. NWA provides member-driven advocacy; education, guidance, and support to WIC staff; and drive innovation to strengthen WIC as we work toward a nation of healthier women, children, and their families. Learn more at www.nwica.org.