Linda C. Mathes

Linda is the Special Advisor for the Bipartisan Leadership Project (BLP) which equips public servants and a new generation of leaders with fundamental skills necessary to work collaboratively for the common good.  She supports the BLP’s partnership with the Political Leadership Academy at George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution.  She manages the community Working Group assisting Fairfax County Public Schools in creating the John Lewis leadership program to prepare students for public service and leadership roles.  Linda also serves as Executive Mentor for the Global Good Fund and 2020/21 Board member and Treasurer for the International Women’s Forum-DC.

Linda served as CEO of the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region until June 2020 when she wrapped up her distinguished career with the Red Cross where she served at the local, regional and national levels beginning in 1973.  She has served on several boards and received numerous awards for her accomplishments in leadership development, team building, resource mobilization, board engagement, and strategic partnerships with the public, private and nonprofit sectors. 

Linda received her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Vanderbilt University and her Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California. She is a graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy and Partners in Organizational Leadership at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.