About Ashley:

Ashley Betts is a recent graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School MPA program and Wharton School MBA program. As a fierce advocate of diversity, she serves on the Harvard Kennedy School’s Diversity Committee, worked as a Diversity Associate in Enrollment Services, co-chaired the Black Student Union, and was CMO for the Black Policy Conference. At Wharton, Ashley co-founded Wharton’s first DEI consulting club and served on the Dean’s MBA Advisory Council. She also served on the Executive Boards of Wharton’s Graduate Association Cluster Council, African American MBA Association, Return on Equality, GUIDE, and Rebuilding Together.

Before graduate school, Ashley worked in finance at General Electric and Baker Hughes. Simultaneously she launched corporate social responsibility initiatives to increase racial representation at her company and in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math. Recently, Ashley worked at Bain & Company and Goldman Sachs, advising on various topics, including diversity and mobilizing private capital for social impact.

Ashley is recipient of the University of Pennsylvania’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Involvement Recognition Award, the Wharton School’s Meckler Family Fellowship, and Harvard Center for Public Leadership’s Fellowship for Serving African American Communities. She is also a fellow at Management Leadership for Tomorrow and Toigo Foundation.

Goals for the HKS BAA: During my tenure as the HKS Black Student Union president, I had the privilege of witnessing the transformative influence that can result from fostering a robust partnership between the BAA and BSU. Enhancing collaboration and mutual support between these influential bodies was a paramount goal for me.

The mission of the BAA resonates deeply with my values, and I am truly impressed by the accomplishments of the current board. Their unwavering commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within both the Harvard community and the broader world is nothing short of inspiring. I firmly believe in the potential of alumni networks to drive lasting change, and I am eager to leverage my skills, experiences, and insights to further the BAA's mission.

Connection with HKS:

Maintaining a strong bond with the Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) is a top priority. As an alum, I engage with pivotal associations like the Harvard Center for Public Leadership Alumni Fellows and the HKS Black Alumni Association, nurturing relationships with advocates of transformative leadership and diversity within the HKS community.

I also serve as a consultant in HKS Enrollment Services, working to increase Black student representation post-COVID and in response to recent affirmative action rulings, aligning with my commitment to inclusivity.

My involvement in the Bloomberg Center at Harvard as a fellow dedicated to equity in federal governance allows me to practically apply HKS's principles, expanding my impact beyond academia.

 In summary, my diverse engagement across alumni associations, consulting, and fellowship underscores my unwavering dedication to the HKS community, aiming to uphold its values and contribute to ongoing success.