Jenn Ashley has over two decades of experience in community development, governmental affairs, and development. Her career includes significant experience in the Texas House and Senate as well as the U.S. House of Representatives, where she worked closely with legislators. Her professional career has been marked by her ability to build partnerships through developing and maintaining close, productive relationships with key leaders, bringing communities together to solve problems, serving historically underserved populations, and advocating for meaningful change. For the past seven years, Jenn has been dedicated to improving the lives of Texans through extension services at Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU). Recently, she transitioned to the role of project manager for the PVAMU Food Security Research Center (FSRC), leveraging her extensive background to create a unique synergy that significantly contributes to this position.
Raised in West Texas by first generation Mexican Americans, Jenn learned the values of hard work and resilience from her parents who were field laborers in Hereford, TX. They were determined that their children would never have to that life. Jenn views her work in agriculture as a way to honor her parents’ legacy by FSRC’s vision to lead in pioneering solutions that improve systemic food security while developing the next generation of food and agriculture researchers, professionals, and innovators.