This presentation will introduce new Strategic Directions through 2020 for the Council on Linkages Between Academia and Public Health Practice (Council on Linkages), highlighting priority workforce development focus areas in an evolving field of public health and how these focus areas are guiding activity as the Council on Linkages moves into its 25th year of operations. Dr. Keck will offer the Council on Linkages’ perspective on improving performance within public health and engage participants in small group discussions related to two significant elements of the Council on Linkages’ support for the workforce – the Academic Health Department Learning Community and the Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals – to help guide how these initiatives evolve to ensure maximum benefit for the public health workforce.