Anchor Institutions Task Force (AITF)

Director, DAC Services & Programs, SBH Health System

Ruel L. A. Huffstead, Jr. is a healthcare leader, husband, father, and community advocate committed to strengthening the connection between healthcare institutions and the communities they serve. He currently serves as Director of DAC Services & Programs at SBH Health System in the Bronx, New York, where he provides leadership for several patient-centered programs, including the Pathways Center, Routine HIV Screening, Undetectables Program, quality improvement initiatives, and efforts to strengthen patient engagement and access to care.

Ruel’s professional journey spans healthcare administration, technology, data management, financial services, and organizational performance. This diverse background has shaped his approach to leadership and his belief in using data, collaboration, and innovation to build stronger systems while remaining focused on the people and communities those systems are designed to serve.

Ruel earned his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from St. John’s University and an MBA and is a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Beyond his professional career, he is an active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., where he has served in multiple leadership capacities and supported mentorship, scholarship fundraising, and community service initiatives. As a husband and father, his commitment to building stronger communities and creating opportunities for future generations is also deeply personal.

As a 2027 AITF Anchor Fellow, Ruel looks forward to expanding his understanding of how anchor institutions can leverage their resources, partnerships, and influence to advance equity and create sustainable community impact. He plans to apply the knowledge and relationships gained through the fellowship as he continues his progression toward executive healthcare leadership. His long-term vision is to help shape healthcare organizations that are not only strong institutions, but active partners in advancing population health, economic opportunity, health equity, and the overall well-being of the communities they serve.

Vice President for Student Life, Berea College

Dr. Channell Barbour is a mission‑driven higher education leader with more than two decades of experience across higher education, public service, and the nonprofit sector. Her work centers on student‑focused leadership, rural education, and institutional transformation, with a strong commitment to advancing equity, access, and excellence.

She has held senior leadership roles including Vice President for Student Life at Berea College, where she provided executive oversight for student development, engagement, and holistic success. Dr. Barbour also previously served as Vice President for Strategic Partnerships at Partners for Rural Impact, leading national collaborations that strengthened educational access and opportunity in rural communities.

Her career includes roles in public service for former Kentucky Governor Paul Patton and former Louisville Mayor Jerry Abramson, as well as progressive leadership positions at Indiana University Southeast and Berea College. She holds degrees from Berea College, West Virginia University, and Indiana State University.

Dr. Barbour’s scholarly work includes research on the lived experiences of gay and lesbian college athletes, and she has presented nationally on student engagement, leadership development, and equity in higher education. She is currently a participant in the HBCU Executive Leadership Institute at Clark Atlanta University, a premier leadership program preparing future presidents and senior executives for HBCUs, MSIs, and PBIs.

She serves on the boards of The Well Incubator, Inc. and the Driving Force Group, contributing to both local and national efforts that expand opportunity for underserved communities. Through The Well Incubator, she supports initiatives that empower West End Louisville residents to build and launch businesses, while her work with the Driving Force Group advances broader educational, wellness, economic, and community development initiatives across the country.