Al Richmond, MSW

Al Richmond, MSW, Executive Director of Community-Campus Partnerships for Health (CCPH), is a global thought leader advocating for the increased role of communities in research and public health. In his role as Executive Director of CCPH, Al is advancing the organization’s commitment to social justice and health equity. His interest in research ethics and its influence on community engagement was broaden through a 2016 fellowship at the Brocher Foundation in Geneva, Switzerland. The Residency program resulted in the creation of guidelines for the conduct of community engaged research (CEnR). In August 2017, he launched the inaugural session, Structural Inequality: An On the Ground View. This was a highly experiential session. It provided a look through the lens of equity to develop and expand the understanding of structural and historic factors contributing to racism in America.

Al serves as principal investigator of Patient Engagement: Enhancing Culturally Responsive Research funded by Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) and as Co-Principal Investigator of Ensuring Ethical Community-Engaged Research: Elevating the Role and Impact of Community-Based IRBs and Research Review Committees funded by the National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities. In addition, Al provides leadership to multiple academic research projects. Al’s leadership interest seeks to deepen CCPH’s focus in emerging issues impacting our nation including: education, immigration, diversity and culture.

As a founding member and past chair of the Community Based Public Health Caucus and the National Community Based Organization Network, he helped to foster effective partnerships focused on community-identified health concerns and partnerships that integrated local leaders in the decision-making process.

Al completed the William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations, a 2-year leadership program for North Carolina residents in 2016. This experience has expanded his commitment to provide leadership to improve race, class and gender relationships in North Carolina and beyond. For the past decade he has served as field instructor and supervisor to over 20 students.  Many are currently early public health practitioners and scholars.

He holds a Master of Social Work from The Ohio State University. Al is a certified facilitator for the Poverty Simulation, Intercultural Developmental Inventory and ToP Facilitation Methods.