FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Missouri Foundation for Health
ST LOUIS, MO (January 26, 2023) Today Missouri Foundation for Health announced key leadership updates. Julie Russell joins the Foundation as Chief Strategy Officer after a nationwide search. Mark Seebeck steps into the role of Chief Financial and Administrative Officer, succeeding Jill Nowak, who takes on the newly created position of Executive Vice President of Impact Investing.
Roles Support Vision of CEO for Foundation
Leadership and innovation in these three roles directly support the vision of MFH CEO Dr. Dwayne Proctor, which is to achieve health equity in Missouri by 2033.
The Foundation advances health equity through a commitment to long-term projects that stimulate public health conversations and cultivate systems change, using specific strategic goals and program approaches. These goals include contributing toward an enabling environment for improving health equity in the state, driving lasting systemic changes on a carefully selected number of key issues, and supporting opportunities to advance the Foundation’s mission and vision. By focusing on health policy and advocacy, its strategic initiatives, and responsive philanthropy opportunities, MFH is able to generate and accelerate positive changes in health across the 84 counties and the city of St. Louis.
The three leadership roles coordinate to support MFH’s current work and Proctor’s vision.
“Our entire leadership team brings an extraordinary mix of skills, talent, humility, and lived experience to the Foundation. Together, they are a powerhouse – strong, coordinated, and inventive. Leaning into that, optimizing that collective thought partnership is critical for us to reach our goals,” said Dr. Proctor.
Russell Joins MFH as Chief Strategy Officer
Julie Russell brings over 25 years of experience in the philanthropic sector, focused on strategic impact and equitable outcomes, to the role of CSO. Her expertise includes strategy development and deployment, system and program design, community engagement, performance and outcomes measurement, and quality improvement.
Russell begins her new role on January 30, 2023.
Before joining the Foundation, she served as Executive Vice President, Head of Behavioral Health and Wellness for Concordance, a nonprofit focused on reducing reincarceration rates for justice-involved adults. Russell previously served as Executive Director of the Leap Ambassadors, a global community dedicated to high performance in the social sector; and as Chief Impact Officer for the United Way of Greater St. Louis, overseeing programmatic strategy in investments, initiatives, policy, and evaluation.
As Deputy Director of the St. Louis County Children’s Service Fund, she worked on a ballot initiative to establish a $40 million taxpayer-supported fund dedicated to children’s behavioral health, developing a common outcomes framework to measure and communicate collective results.
Russell will report to the CEO and collaborate closely with the Board and executive leadership, ensuring that work across the Foundation’s initiatives is integrated and effective.
“It’s an exciting time to join the Foundation. We’ve just welcomed several new board directors, and we’re launching a food justice initiative. This is complex work. I look forward to learning, building relationships, and using my skillset to help drive lasting systems change on key issues,” said Russell.
Chief Financial and Administrative Officer Transition, New Vice President of Impact Investing
Mark Seebeck was recently named as the Foundation’s new Chief Financial and Administrative Officer. He joined Missouri Foundation for Health in 2002 as Controller, bringing expertise in analytical work, tax, business strategy, and risk management. Seebeck helped launch the Foundation’s initial finance operations and became Senior Director of Finance and Administration in 2015.
Seebeck led improvements in financial reporting, information technology systems, and operational effectiveness.
“I’ve had a front-row seat to MFH’s growth and impact during my 20 years at the Foundation. I’m honored to continue my contribution to that legacy,” he said.
Seebeck succeeds Jill Nowak, who brings her skills and expertise to a new role as the Foundation’s first Executive Vice President of Impact Investing. The position will enhance MFH’s mission-aligned work by developing a roadmap to launch an innovative social impact-laden investment portfolio.
“MFH has always tapped into various tools to drive change in our communities. In my new role, I look forward to exploring opportunities that will highlight the value of investment as a unique way to enhance the quality of life for Missourians,” said Nowak. “Our investment portfolio has the potential to further our mission in an innovative way while supporting large-scale, bold ideas that will ultimately help us achieve health equity.”
Nowak’s responsibilities will include gathering information and learnings from other institutions that have robust and effective place-based and impact-investing programs. She will oversee an environmental scan of Missouri to identify potential meaningful investment opportunities and explore collaborative relationships with organizations to increase the effectiveness of MFH investments.