Ashleigh Thompson Brings Decades of Expertise to Education Commission of the States
The City University of New York today announced that CUNY University Dean for Education Ashleigh Thompson has been appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul to represent New York as a commissioner of the Education Commission of the States (ECS). ECS is a national education policy body composed of elected officials and senior education leaders from around the country. The commission conducts research and facilitates collaboration with state policymakers to guide the creation of informed education policy.
Thompson is one of five representatives from New York on ECS. The other New York commissioners are Governor Hochul, State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa, State Senate Education Committee Chair Shelley Mayer and State University of New York Vice Chancellor Chris White.
“CUNY is proud to have our very own Ashleigh Thompson bringing her broad experience to the national stage and helping influence educational policy across New York State and the country,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “We know that Dean Thompson will represent CUNY and New York well in this new endeavor on the Education Commission of the States and we extend our appreciation to Governor Hochul for making this appointment.”
Thompson oversees the University’s educator preparation programs which enroll more than 15,000 students who are pursuing associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees across 500 academic offerings in education — one of the largest single academic areas at CUNY. She leads numerous successful University-wide initiatives advancing areas including teacher recruitment, digital literacy, reading, STEM and certification. Over more than two decades at the University, Thompson has represented CUNY on boards and committees across the city and state.
“I look forward to learning from and working with leaders across the country towards the strengthening of education,” said CUNY University Dean for Education Ashleigh Thompson.“ECS priority areas such as college affordability, supporting the teacher pipeline, preparing students for the future workforce and student wellbeing all impact education across the P-20 landscape and merit a coordinated policy focus. I’m appreciative to Governor Hochul for this opportunity to serve New York and advocate for education issues that align with our deep commitments at CUNY.”
Thompson earned her doctorate in urban education with a specialization in policy studies from the CUNY Graduate Center. In 2016, she received the Fulbright Program’s International Education Administrator Award to engage in an intensive seminar abroad in France. Under her leadership, CUNY has introduced innovative programs that include NYC Men Teach, CUNY Computing Integrated Teacher Education and the CUNY Reading Fellows.
In another recent validation of the expertise that the University’s leadership has in education administration, Medgar Evers College President Patricia Ramsey was elected as a commissioner for the Middle States Commission of Higher Education. MSCHE is the accreditation agency for more than 500 institutions of higher education, including CUNY colleges. Ramsey is serving a five-year term that began January 1.
