Learn More About CHC’s New CEO: Jean C. Accius, PhD

After an extensive search with an abundance of strong candidates, CHC’s Board Search Committee unanimously selected Jean C. Accius, PhD as CHC’s next president and CEO. Learn more about Dr. Accius.

Career Experience

Dr. Jean Accius is an accomplished leader and innovator in health equity, longevity, health systems transformation, and building equitable systems so that every person in every community can live a longer, healthier, and more productive life.

As President & CEO of CHC: Creating Healthier Communities, Jean leads a high-performing team that is dedicated to breaking down the barriers to health and empowering communities to thrive. With business acumen and deep experience across sectors, Dr. Accius understands how to develop creative and actionable solutions, policies, and programs that uncover the economic advantages of addressing disparities. He has a proven track record of collaborating across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to accelerate the pace of change.

Prior to CHC, Dr. Accius was a member of the policy team for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and spent more than 15 years at AARP, the nation’s largest nonprofit, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of International Affairs and Global Thought Leadership. At AARP, Jean led his team in creating a business case for diversity in the workforce and conducting seminal research on the contributions of the aging population to the global economy.

Dr. Accius has been widely recognized for his transformational leadership—from Next Avenue’s Influencer in Aging Award (2020) to Black Enterprise magazine’s Modern Man of Distinction (2018) to Florida State University’s Distinguished Black Alumni of the Year (2021). He has also been a member of the Fast Company Impact Council since 2021.

He is a sought-after author and speaker, and is regularly featured in outlets, including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Forbes, TIME Magazine and Politico. He has facilitated sessions at the World Economic Forum in Davos and has engaged hundreds of leaders across industries and sectors at the United Nations. Under his leadership, his previous team’s signature program, Growing with Age, was recognized as part of the Fast Company World Changing Ideas program.

Dr. Accius has long been passionate about equity, the contributions of women to society, and improving the world around him—he was raised from infancy to age four by his grandmother in Haiti. Her hard work and dedication has inspired his career path to this day.

Dr. Accius is a certified director with the National Association of Corporate Directors, a fellow with the Executive Leadership Council, a graduate of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Program on Health Reform, and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business Corporate Innovation Program. He holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Florida State University and a Ph.D. from American University School of Public Affairs.

Selected Publications

Accius has published numerous journal articles and research reports and is a sought-after speaker and presenter.

Journal Articles

  • Accius, Jean, and Edem Hado. “Reimagining and Transforming Long-Term Care.” Generations Journal, 46, no. 1 (Spring 2022).
  • Accius, Jean and Jarmin Christine Yeh. “America Must Invest in Its Next Generation.” Generation Journal, 40, no. 4 (Winter 2016).
  • Gueorguieva, Vassia, Jean Accius, Carmen Apaza, Lamar Bennett, Clinton Brownley, Shea Cronin, Panote

Preechyanud, and Beryl Radin. 2008. “The Program Assessment Rating Tool and the Government Performance and Results Act: Evaluating Conflicts and Disconnections.” American Review of Public Administration.

  • Durant, Robert and Jean Accius. 2007. “The Senior Executive Service,” in Richard Kearney and Jack Rabin, eds., Encyclopedia of Public Administration and Public Policy. New York: Marcel Dekker; significantly revised and updated from 2003 first edition of this book.

Research Reports

  • Accius, Jean and Erwin Tan. Our Collective Future: The Economic Impact of Unequal Life Expectancy. Washington, DC: AARP Thought Leadership, February 2022.
  • Accius, Jean, and Joo Yeoun Suh. The Economic Impact of Supporting Working Family Caregivers. Washington, DC: AARP Thought Leadership, March 2021.
  • Accius, Jean, and Joo Yeoun Suh. The Economic Impact of Age Discrimination: How Discriminating Against Older Workers Could Cost the U.S. Economy $850 Billion. Washington, DC: AARP Thought Leadership, January 2020.
  • Accius, Jean, and Joo Yeoun Suh. The Longevity Economy Outlook: How People Ages 50 and Older Are Fueling Economic Growth, Stimulating Jobs, and Creating Opportunities for All. Washington, DC: AARP Thought Leadership, December 2019.
  • Reinhard, Susan, Heather M. Young, Carol Levine, Kathleen Kelly, Rita Choula, and Jean Accius. Home Alone Revisited. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute, April 2019.
  • Accius, Jean. Breaking Stereotypes: Spotlight on Male Family Caregivers. Washington DC: AARP Public Policy Institute, March 2017.
  • Reinhard, Susan, Jean Accius, Ari Houser, Kathleen Ujvari, Julia Alexis and Wendy Fox-Grage. Picking up the Pace of Change: A state scoreboard on Long-Term Services and Supports for older Adults, People with Physical Disabilities, and Family Caregivers. Washington DC: AARP Public Policy Institute, August 2017.
  • Walker, Lina and Jean Accius. 2010. State Variation in Access to Medicaid HCBS and Nursing Home Services: A 50-State Survey of Financial Eligibility Standards. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute.
  • Accius, Jean. The Village: A Growing Option for Aging in Place. AARP Public Policy Institute, March 2010.
  • Accius, Jean. The Role of the Older Americans Act in Providing Long-Term Care. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute, October 2008.
  • Accius, Jean. The Food Stamp Program and Older Americans. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute, October 2008.
  • Accius, Jean. 2008. Nutrition Assistance for Older Americans. Washington, DC: AARP Public Policy Institute, October 2008.

Newsletters & Book Reviews

  • Accius, Jean, “Are we There Yet? The State of Long-Term Services and Supports,” Aging Today (Winter 2014).
  • Accius, Jean and Karon Phillips, review of The Art of Conversation through Serious Illness: Lessons for Caregivers, by Richard P. McQuellon & Michael A. Cowan. Journal of Women & Aging (Spring 2014).
  • Accius, Jean, “Creative Thinking Needed to Meet Long-Term Care Needs of Increasingly Diverse Elder Populations,” Aging Today (Winter 2011 Vol. 2, Issue 3).
  • Accius, Jean and Rita Choula, “The Year of the Family Caregiver: The National Family Caregiver Support Program,” Aging Today (Spring 2011 Vol. 2 Issue 4).
  • Accius, Jean, “The Economic Tsuanmi and Retirement Security: Implications for Communities of Color,” Diversity Currents (Spring 2009).

Education

Doctor of Philosophy, Public Administration | American University – Washington, DC

Dissertation: Toward a Demographic Divide? Equity, Race and Social Security 

Master of Science, Aging Studies; Social Gerontology | Florida State University – Tallahassee, FL 

Bachelor of Science, Business Administration; Senior Living Services, Hospitality Administration | Florida State University – Tallahassee, FL 

LEAD Corporate Innovation Program | Stanford Graduate School of Business – Stanford, CA 

Executive Leadership Education Program | Georgetown McDonough School of Business – Washington, DC 

Preparing for What’s Next in U.S. Health Reform | Harvard University School of Public Health – Cambridge, MA 

National Association of Corporate Directors Certification | National Association of Corporate Directors 

Project Management Professional (PMP) | Project Management Institute (PMI)

Affiliations

  • Fast Company Impact Council, Member (2021 to present)
  • Forbes Business Council, Member (2021 to present)
  • Stillman College, Board of Trustees (2021 to present)
  • The Commonwealth Fund, Member, Health Editorial Advisory Board, Transforming Care (2020 to Present)
  • American University Board of Advisors, School of Public Affairs (2019 to Present)
  • Justice in Aging, Member, Executive Committee and Board of Directors (2015 to Present)
  • Leadership in Maryland, Member, Board of Directors (2015 to Present)

Awards

  • Toastmasters International, Advanced Communicator Bronze Award
  • Success Magazine 125 Most Influential Leaders in 2022
  • 2021 Florida State University Distinguished Black Alumni of the Year
  • 2020 Influencer on Aging
  • 2020 Florida State University Alumni Association Circle of Gold Honoree
  • 2019 National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Sharecare Award, 2019
  • 2019 Daily Record Influential Marylander
  • 2019 The Seminole Club of Greater Washington, DC Distinguished Alumni Award
  • 2018 Honoree of Forty UNDER 40 Prince George’s County
  • 2018 Black Enterprise Man of Distinction
  • 2017 National Academy of Social Insurance Torch Recipient
  • 2015 American University Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Honoree

“I was drawn to CHC’s powerful mission and dedicated board and staff team,” said Dr. Jean C. Accius. “It’s an incredible honor to join CHC at this significant time, just as the organization has completed a successful evolution to health equity. This is an era of unprecedented opportunity, and I look forward to continuing to grow CHC’s impact, relevance and revenue. Together, we’ll break down the barriers to good health and equity and create resilient communities where everyone can thrive.”

“The organization’s vision: to empower people to take action to improve health and wellbeing, is one that I embrace with reverence and dedication personally and professionally. In an era of unprecedented opportunity, I firmly believe that I can lead your organization in constructing a future that strengthens health and wellbeing, so no community is left behind. We know that it’s not your genetic code but your zip code that determines how long you will live in this country. Now is the time to act because all residents, of all neighborhoods, deserve the same number of years to grow old with their spouses, play cards with their friends, check books out of the library, and watch their grandchildren grow up.”