Ron Simmons, Ph.D.

Ron Simmons, Ph.D., is the President/CEO of Us Helping Us, People Into Living, Inc. (UHU), a nonprofit agency dedicated to reducing HIV infection in the African-American community.  UHU specializes in HIV prevention for black gay/bisexual men and transgender persons.  UHU began as a self-help group for HIV-infected black gay men who would meet in their living rooms.  Under Dr. Simmons leadership, today, UHU has become one of the largest black AIDS organizations in the country serving men and women.  Currently, UHU offers an array of programs including HIV counseling and testing, case management, support groups, individual psychotherapy, risk reduction workshops, and street and venue-based outreach.  It has 13 full-time staff and an annual budget of $1.5 million.  In 2001, UHU was the first black gay organization in the nation to purchase and renovate a building for its headquarters and service facility. 

Dr. Simmons is a member of the HIV Prevention Community Planning Group and the Board of Medicine.  He has a B.A. in Afro-American Studies, a M.A. in African History, and a M.S. in Educational Communications from the State University of New York at Albany.  He received his Ph.D. in Mass Communications from Howard University and served on the faculty of the Howard University School of Communications for 12 years. 

Dr. Simmons’ published works include: “Some Thoughts on the Challenges Facing Black Gay Intellectuals” in the anthology Brother To Brother: Collected Writings By Black Gay Men,  “Sexuality, Television and Death: A Black Gay Dialogue On Malcolm X” in Malcolm X: In Our Own Image., and “Baraka’s Dilemma: To Be Or Not To Be” in Black Men on Race, Gender and Sexuality.    He was a field producer, photographer and cast member of the award winning film, Tongues Untied.


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