Dwayne A. Curry

Dwayne Curry, Talent Development and Strategy at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), manages the design, coordination, and implementation of the long-term strategy and approach for training, organizational development programs and initiatives that address the needs of leaders, people leaders, and individual contributors. Dwayne joined the Foundation as a program officer in January 2019 and worked on a strategic portfolio aimed to ensure families had the resources they need to thrive. He created and managed over $50M in grants focused on leadership development, building the capacity of organizations, and supporting community organizing efforts. In 2021, he took on an additional role as an Equity Lead within the RWJF's Equity Leadership Group (ELG). In this collective leadership structure, he led systems change efforts that promoted equitable policies, protocols, and practices. In this capacity, he also served as co-chair of the ELG's Talent Acquisition and Development workgroup.  

Dwayne came to RWJF from Rutgers University, where he previously served in multiple strategic leadership roles in New Jersey for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP). He oversaw the strategy development, implementation, and evaluation efforts for several state-wide adult learning initiatives and managed the learning experiences for over 50,000 people annually. Previously, Dwayne served as Youth Development director for the YMCA of Newark and led projects that addressed childhood obesity. Earlier, he served as a program manager for EXOS Human Capital, where he developed and implemented workplace health and wellness initiatives. 

Dwayne earned a Master of Education degree in adult and continuing education and a BS in exercise science from Rutgers University. He is an Organizational Development Certified Professional (ODCP) and a Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD). His faith, passion for learning, and belief in the power of words ignites his desire to elevate matters dear to his heart through spoken word poetry. A lifelong advocate of an active and healthy lifestyle, he also competes in the centuries-old sport of Muay Thai. Born and raised in Newark, N.J., he still resides in the Garden State with his wife, Jessica, and their blended family of four children. 

From Dwayne, on the Blog