Wylecia Wiggs Harris, PhD, CAE

Chief Executive Officer

Chicago, Illinois

Wylecia Wiggs Harris has oversight of all entities under the Academy’s umbrella, including management of approximately 170 employees. She has responsibility for managing nearly $55 million in revenue (including investment returns), $34 million in operating expense and nearly $97 million in total assets; and directing the Academy’s extensive and influential national and international initiatives in consumer education, nutrition science research and advocacy and public policy. Wylecia also serves as the CEO of the Academy’s Foundation.

Prior to becoming Academy CEO, Wylecia was the CEO of the American Health Information Management Association, leading the organization’s domestic and international transformation with a focus on expanding its influence and impact. From 2015 to 2018, Wylecia was the chief executive officer of the League of Women Voters U.S. From 2010 to 2015, Wylecia worked at the American Nurses Association Enterprise as chief of staff/special projects officer, and then as COO. Previously, Wylecia was the executive director of the Center for American Nurses; executive director of Sister to Sister—Everyone Has a Heart Foundation; senior vice president/executive director at the American Heart Association Mid-Atlantic Region; and held leadership roles at the American Heart Association national office.

Wylecia serves on the Northwest Community Hospital (Arlington Heights, Ill.) Foundation Board of Trustees. She is co-chair of the foundation’s Scholarship Committee and a member of the foundation’s Executive Committee.

Certified by the American Society of Association Executives, Wylecia was named one of 2021’s Top Diversity Leaders by Modern Healthcare, as well as one of the publication’s 10 Diversity Leaders to Watch. In 2022, Modern Healthcare recognized her on its Top Women Leaders list, and the Chicago Defender honored her as part of its 2022 Class of Women of Excellence. Wylecia is a graduate of Wittenberg University. She earned a master of management degree in marketing, health services management and business policy from Northwestern University and a doctorate in organizational management with leadership specialization from Capella University.