DeLancey Johnson, DBA

Dr. DeLancey Johnson joined Communities Foundation of Texas as chief human resources officer in August 2026. As CHRO, DeLancey leads CFT’s human resources strategy, with a focus on building a high-performing, collaborative culture and ensuring the foundation’s talent and people practices support its mission and organizational goals.

DeLancey brings more than 20 years of human resources leadership experience across public, private, nonprofit, and healthcare organizations. Throughout his career, he has led enterprise-wide people strategies and partnered with executive leaders and boards to strengthen organizational culture, develop talent, improve employee engagement and align human resources strategies with business priorities.

Prior to joining CFT, DeLancey served as senior vice president and associate chief talent officer at Parkland Health in Dallas, one of the largest public health systems in the country, where he provided strategic leadership across a broad portfolio of talent and human resources functions.

His work centered on leading and developing teams across traditional and non-traditional departments, including employee-focused programs, while providing executive leadership on talent strategy, organizational effectiveness and enterprise-wide people initiatives. He also guided cross-functional teams through major organizational initiatives, including the implementation of a new enterprise human capital management system.

Previously, DeLancey held senior human resources leadership roles with Memorial Healthcare System, Harris Health System, Academy Sports + Outdoors, and Memorial Hermann Health System.

Early in his career, he spent nearly five years with Kellogg Brown & Root (KBR), supporting U.S. operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait. In that highly complex environment, he helped lead human resources operations for a workforce of more than 10,000 expatriates, an experience that helped shape his collaborative, adaptable and people-centered approach to leadership.

DeLancey holds a Doctor of Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Northcentral University, an MBA from Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Edward Waters College. He holds a senior human resources development certificate from Rice University along with several professional credentials, including Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP / BOARD SERVICE

DeLancey has been actively engaged in professional and community organizations throughout his career, including the Dallas Regional Chamber, Texas Diversity Council, and healthcare-related organizations. He is an active member of the North Texas chapter of the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Numerous professional and community organizations have recognized DeLancey’s leadership. His honors include the Dallas HR Executive Impact Award, Texas Diversity Council’s Individual Leadership Award, the ACHE of North Texas Executive Servant Leader Regent’s Award, SBFW’s Excellence in Human Resource Award, HRO Today’s North America HR Award – Healthcare, and the HRO HR Excellence in Thought Leadership Award.

Over the years, he has been recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review’s “75 Black Healthcare Leaders to Know,” South Florida Magazine’s “40 Under 40: Black Leaders of Today and Tomorrow,” and Savoy Magazine’s “Most Influential Black Leaders in Corporate America.”