Dr. Marcus E. Johnson
President & CEO, Springfield Urban League
Dr. Marcus E. Johnson, Ed.D., MPH, is a health equity strategist and thought leader who serves as President and CEO of the Springfield Urban League Inc. in Illinois. He leads a comprehensive portfolio of education, workforce, health, and economic mobility initiatives designed to expand opportunity for Black and underserved communities in Central Illinois. Under his leadership, the League has deepened its role as a regional anchor institution, connecting families to high quality early childhood education, career pathways, violence prevention supports, and community based health services, while leveraging philanthropy and investment strategy to drive institutional sustainability and long term impact.
A public health and education executive by training, Dr. Johnson has worked across state government, nonprofit systems, and community coalitions to confront the social and structural determinants of health. He has led large scale health initiatives, including the Wellness on Wheels mobile health program, which has increased access to preventive care for more than 80,000 residents over 18 years by delivering screenings, treatment, and connections to ongoing care. He has managed multimillion dollar public and philanthropic portfolios and built cross sector partnerships that align healthcare systems, schools, and community organizations to improve access to care and close racial and economic equity gaps. He serves on several boards and commissions across the State of Illinois and represents the nonprofit sector in the Illinois Health in All Policies initiative, where he helped advance efforts that formally recognize racism as a public health crisis and embed equity considerations into state and local policy.
Dr. Johnson holds a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) from Creighton University, a Master of Public Health (MPH) from Southern Illinois University, and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biology from Tuskegee University. His leadership has been recognized by the National Urban League with the Health Leadership Award (2018), the Exemplary Leadership in Health Equity Award (2022), the Urban League Movement Champion Award for Leadership in Health (2024), and the John W. Mack Medal of Honor (2024). His work centers on community rooted, data informed strategies that shift systems and improve outcomes for children, youth, and families.