As the Senior Leader of Equity and Inclusion for the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, Jessica Ruffin leads efforts to advance equity and inclusion across Allegheny County. This work includes strategies to support the internal workforce in addition to working with providers on services delivered to the community.

Most recently, Ruffin was the director of the Social Justice Institutes at Carlow University. Her responsibilities included the oversight of the Grace Ann Geibel Institute for Justice and Social Responsibility, and the Centers for Community-engaged Learning and Youth Media Advocacy. Ruffin has also held positions with several local organization including Coro / Public Allies Pittsburgh, Amachi Pittsburgh, and YWCA Greater Pittsburgh.

Ruffin serves as the co-chair of Allegheny County Health Department Office of Violence Prevention Community Advisory Board. She also serves on the board of the Hilltop Alliance, the Gwendolyn J. Elliott Institute of Gwen’s Girls, and the Board of Commissioners for PACE Pittsburgh. She was recently appointed by Mayor William Peduto to the City of Pittsburgh Human Rights Commission.

Ruffin earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Studies from the University of Pittsburgh and her MBA from Chatham University.