Ruth Ellen Fitch

Ruth Ellen Fitch served as President and Chief Executive Officer for nine years at The Dimock Center, retiring in June 2013. Prior to her position with Dimock, Ruth practiced law with Palmer & Dodge LLP where she became the first Black female partner at a Boston law firm. Before attending law school, Ruth was Director of the METCO program in the Brookline Public Schools. She also taught Black literature at the University of Massachusetts Boston.

She holds a B.A. in Economics from Barnard College, Columbia University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, where she served for three years on the Law School Administrative Board.

As President and Chief Executive Officer of The Dimock Center, Ruth returned to the Roxbury neighborhood where she grew up, bringing her significant experience managing complex organizations, as well as her commitment to helping others overcome social and economic obstacles. She serves as a Director of Health Law Advocates and as a Director of the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation. She is also a Trustee of the Ludcke Foundation.

Ruth received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from Curry College in 2011 and will receive an Honorary Doctoral Degree from Simmons College in 2014. She received the Pinnacle Award for achievement in the legal profession from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Women’s Bar Association of Massachusetts Award, the Charles Hamilton Houston Public Service Award from the Harvard Black Law Students Association, and the Distinguished Alumna Award from Girls’ Latin School/Boston Latin Academy, where she has been a commencement speaker.

As an Access to Justice Fellow, Ruth will be working with Moving from Debt to Assets, a Greater Boston neighborhood financial literacy program offering learning and support services to diverse groups of residents. She will work with the program’s Executive Director and Board on strategic planning that will focus on expanding programs and development outreach aimed at insuring that this important program continues to serve Greater Boston residents.