Vice President, Programs
Dr. Erik Augustson, Vice President of Programs, oversees the Foundation’s global grantmaking portfolio, including strategy, development, and implementation of all programmatic work. In this role, he is responsible for grants in all countries in which the Foundation makes grants, evaluating the performance of programs and grantees, ensuring quality and accountability, and identifying emerging opportunities.
Dr. Augustson has made significant contributions throughout his extensive career within academic, clinical medicine, federal government, and private sectors. For the past two decades, he has been a driving force in increasing the impact of population-level/public health interventions within domestic and international settings. Notably, Dr. Augustson played a pivotal role in the development and leadership of the large-scale U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mobile health and behavior change program, Smokefree.gov, showcasing his dedication to innovative approaches in the pursuit of healthier communities.
Recognized as an award-winning mentor and senior leader, Dr. Augustson is known for his human-focused management style. His commitment to research, intervention program development, evaluation, and management has earned him accolades and positioned him as a respected figure in the field.
Dr. Augustson holds two master’s degrees and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of New Mexico. He also completed two postdoctoral fellowships—one in behavioral medicine from the University of Alabama School of Medicine and the other in epidemiology and cancer prevention from the U.S. National Cancer Institute.
