For Immediate Release: November 2, 2017
Contact: Kyle Murphy, (202) 876-2820, kmurphy@aidsunited.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. – AIDS United, dedicated to ending the HIV epidemic in the United States, announced today that after a broad national search, it has selected William “Bill” McColl to serve as its next vice president for policy and advocacy. Bill assumes his new role effective December 1 – World AIDS Day 2017 – following the upcoming retirement of his predecessor, Ronald Johnson.
“Bill brings over 20 years of leadership in this field, and is a dedicated and effective member of our team. We could not be more thrilled to be passing the baton to him,” said AIDS United President & CEO Jesse Milan Jr.
Since 2004 McColl has served as director of health policy at AIDS United and its forerunner, the AIDS Action Council. His leadership proved essential to two successful reauthorizations of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program, passage and implementation of the Affordable Care Act and most recently, ending the Congressional ban on the use of federal funds for syringe service programs. His first foray into HIV advocacy came while serving as government relations director at NAADAC, The Association for Addiction Professionals, where he worked on syringe access policy and later became executive director.
“We have an amazing opportunity to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S., but our defeat of HIV is by no means assured,” said McColl. “In this current political climate, AIDS United’s leadership is more critical than ever. I am honored by the trust placed in me by my colleagues and deeply humbled by the prospect of succeeding my friend and mentor Ronald Johnson. I am delighted to continue my work at AIDS United and eager to advance our vision of an end to this epidemic.”
Ronald Johnson, a nationally respected HIV policy leader and AIDS United’s long-time Vice President for Policy and Advocacy will retire at the end of the year. On World AIDS Day, Mr. Johnson becomes the organization’s first Policy Fellow, a title he will carry with him in retirement.
“Bill has worked closely with Ronald and HIV advocates for many years, and supported all 45 organizational members of AIDS United’s Public Policy Committee. He has deep roots in our work and our movement and I am confident that he is the leader to guide our advocacy efforts during this politically tumultuous time. His passion and policy expertise are the combination we need as we forge ahead.” Milan added.
In addition to his tenure at NAADAC and AIDS United, McColl is past director of national affairs at the Drug Policy Alliance. He is also current co-chair of the Ryan White Working Group, a convening group member of the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership. McColl is also a lawyer, currently serving on the American Bar Association HIV/AIDS Coordinating Committee.
About AIDS United: AIDS United’s mission is to end the AIDS epidemic in the U.S. through strategic grant-making, capacity building, formative research and policy. AIDS United works to ensure access to life-saving HIV/AIDS care and prevention services and to advance sound HIV/AIDS-related policy for U.S. populations and communities most impacted by the epidemic. To date, our strategic grant-making initiatives have directly funded more than $104 million to local communities, and have leveraged more than $117 million in additional investments for programs that include, but are not limited to HIV prevention, access to care, capacity building, harm reduction and advocacy. aidsunited.org.
