Dr. Ashley Stone
Senior Director, National Racial Equity Initiative
Dr. Ashley Stone is the Senior Director, of the National Racial Equity Initiative (NREI) at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation. Inc (CBCF). She will direct and manage the Initiative to ensure implementation of program objectives and initiatives, plan professional development seminars based on assessed needs of participants, and actively track and report ongoing successes while ensuring the program objectives are met. Dr. Stone will focus on fostering scholarship on racial equity and social justice issues. Under her leadership, the NREI Social Justice Scholarship for HBCU students will work closely with Social Justice Ambassadors to advance CBCF’s mission nationwide.
Dr. Stone is a passionate advocate for racial equity and social justice with extensive experience in academic leadership, policy research, and community outreach. Before joining CBCF, she held academic positions including Visiting Assistant Professor at Dominican University and was appointed as the Ida B. Wells-Barnett Postdoctoral Fellow at DePaul University. Her teaching and research have focused on race, gender, and intersectionality, resulting in several peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations. Prior to her faculty roles, Dr. Stone worked directly with youth from underrepresented communities, designing programs that promoted both personal development and academic achievement. For her efforts as an educator and mentor, she has received numerous recognitions and awards. Her research interests have also informed her philanthropic endeavors. Dr. Stone contributes to the boards of various community organizations both in Chicago and nationally, namely in the areas of education and health.
Dr. Stone earned her Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Central Florida, an M.A. in Sociology from DePaul University, and a B.A. in Sociology from the University of Illinois at Chicago. A proud native Chicago’s Bronzeville community, Ashley enjoys art, live music, and salsa dancing in her free time.