Johns Hopkins adds Cybele Bjorklund, Camille Johnston in senior leadership roles

Johns Hopkins University today announced the appointments of two new senior administrative leaders—Cybele Bjorklund, a veteran of Capitol Hill and the health care industry, will be the inaugural executive director of the new Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., and vice president for federal strategy for Johns Hopkins University and Medicine; and Camille Johnston, who brings more than 25 years of communications leadership experience from the White House, pro sports, and private industry, will be JHU's next vice president for communications.

Bjorklund returns to Hopkins, where she previously served as vice president for federal strategy from February 2019 to June 2021. More recently she has worked as senior vice president of policy and government strategy at Virta Health, a health care start-up focused on type 2 diabetes. Throughout her career, including for more than 20 years as a congressional aide, she has worked to advance evidence-based policy solutions and increase access to health care for millions of people in the U.S and around the globe.

"In addition to her entrepreneurial acumen, Cybele brings to this role wisdom, vision, and more than two decades of experience navigating complex and politically challenging health policy issues on Capitol Hill," JHU President Ron Daniels wrote in a message to Hopkins leadership today. "Since we dedicated the Hopkins Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., just a few short weeks ago, we have hit the ground running, and I can imagine no better person to step into this critical role at this important moment for our institution."

In her new role, Bjorklund will oversee the development and implementation of programming that draws upon and complements the work of the university's divisions. She will also pursue high-profile, D.C.-based partnerships, programming, and engagement opportunities that augment the presence of JHU's divisions and programs in the nation's capital.

"I am thrilled to be back and am excited to get to work to bring all of Hopkins' expertise and research to the forefront of policymaking in Washington," Bjorklund said. "We are going to forge new partnerships and launch impactful programing, positioning the Hopkins Bloomberg Center as a bustling academic hub and a new public square for advancing global and domestic policy solutions."

Johnston joins Johns Hopkins from the Siemens Corporation, where she currently serves as senior vice president for corporate affairs leading corporate communications, strategy, DEI and Sustainability for the multinational technology company. Recruited in 2010 to grow the company's reputation in the U.S., Johnston is responsible for developing, leading, and implementing an integrated communications, marketing, and brand strategy nationwide.

"A strategic and collegial leader with a proven track record not only in executing high-level communications strategies, but building and nurturing exceptional teams," Daniels wrote, "Camille will work closely with senior university leaders, providing counsel and expertise in communications and marketing and helping to move forward the shared priorities of the Ten for One."

Prior to her work at Siemens, Johnston served as communications director for First Lady Michelle Obama, communications consultant for the Stand Up To Cancer campaign, and senior vice president of communications for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"It is an honor to join the Hopkins community and to work for the nation's first research university and the largest employer in Baltimore," Johnston said. "I am inspired both by the history of the institution and the role it plays in shaping our future and I look forward to doing my part to lift up its incredible contributions and impact."