Caira Woods

Caira Woods, Ph.D., is deputy director for Economic Mobility and Opportunity. In this role, she develops and advances the foundation’s U.S. Economic Mobility and Opportunity strategy, a national effort to increase the number and range of actors committed to dramatically increasing mobility from poverty.

Prior to joining the foundation in 2017, Dr. Woods served in senior advisory roles at the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. In this capacity, she provided leadership on policy priorities including opioid use, advancing equity and empowerment, HIV/AIDS, and violence against women. In addition, Dr. Woods previously held positions at the U.S. House of Representatives; National Institutes of Health; and National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Dr. Woods is a proud alumna of New York University and Spelman College and serves on the board of the D.C. Rape Crisis Center.