Ashley Patton believes that everyone should have access to education, and that universities should rise to meet modern challenges so their students can thrive. In more than a decade of experience with higher education and nonprofit organizations, she's continuously championed equality and diversity. Now, as the founding director of CS Pathways in Carnegie Mellon University's (CMU) School of Computer Science, she channels that passion into creating strategies and implementing programs that will change the face of computer science for the future.

At CMU, Ashley has created an award-winning educational equity program that aims to expand computer science education to students who are historically underrepresented and underestimated in STEM fields. Ashley has also delivered invited talks nationally and internationally on the topic of diversity, equity and inclusion in CS education at conferences sponsored by organizations such as the International Telecommunications Union/XPRIZE Foundation.

Ashley holds a B.A. in philosophy from Westminster College and an M.S. in organizational leadership from Carlow University.