Linda H. Scruggs, DLH, MHS, LPC has been an educator, activist, and leader in the HIV community for over 34 years. Her start in HIV was as a women's health advocate shortly after her HIV diagnosis in 1990 at Johns Hopkins. Since that time, she has denounced stigma and social harm perpetrated on people living with HIV/AIDS. In 2012, Linda co-founded Ribbon – A Center of Excellence, formerly known as Ribbon Consulting Group. A national nonprofit and leading provider of skill-building training, technical assistance, sustainable organizational development, and leadership development services. Ribbon facilitates engagement with policymakers, government agencies, and national HIV organizations, bolstering its ability to address HIV-related challenges and health disparities on a national scale. Furthermore, Ribbon has earned distinction as a key convener and thought leader, offering initiatives in organizational development and policy advocacy. Their reputation as a premier provider of skillbuilding training, technical assistance, sustainable organizational growth, and leadership development has made them sought-after across the United States. Linda's role at Ribbon is Project Lead for two National Organizing Centers for Gilead's Center of Excellence 4 Healthy Aging with HIV and the Setting PACE Black Women and Girls Initiative. Both organizing centers provide comprehensive technical assistance to grantee partner organizations to strengthen their capacity to respond to the changing social and healthcare needs of an aging HIV population and the organizations supporting Black cisgender and transgender Women and Girls. In July 2025, she launched "SHEROIC," which is a digital magazine and podcast designed to amplify Black women's voices through healing-centered storytelling, leadership dialogue, podcasting, live experiences, and digital media engagement.
Over the past 34 years, her accomplishments have been numerous, as she has stood as a positive voice in the HIV community. Her favorites are being a mother and wife, and in 2010, she received an Honorable Mention from President Barack Obama. In 2012, she was a plenary speaker at the International AIDS Conference and in January 2024 was bestowed with an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters, D.H.L. from Breakthrough Bible College & Theological Seminary. Simply stated, Linda has committed a portion of her life to ensuring the health and rights of persons living with and vulnerable to HIV are high priorities to policymakers, systems of care, research communities, and the communities in which these individuals live and play.
