Ashleigh Huffman

About Ashleigh Huffman

For twenty years, I have been a leader in sport-based social change, working across sectors with athletes, corporates, government, and nonprofits to create holistic and sustainable models for community transformation. I have a PhD in Sociocultural Studies and multiple honors and publications in the fields of sport diplomacy, gender equity, and leadership development.As the former Sports Diplomacy Chief at the U.S. Department of State, I negotiated international sports policy, managed elite-level international sports exchanges, and developed comprehensive strategies for international sporting events. I worked closely with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, as well as the NCAA, and professional sports leagues to promote women’s empowerment, inclusion of persons with disabilities, racial justice, and refugee integration. Over the course of my career, I\'ve trained leaders from 125+ countries in sport-based social innovation strategies and secured more than $50 million in funding and partnerships for sport diplomacy programs. As a sports diplomacy expert, I work with organizations like the United Nations, UEFA, FIBA, the U.S. Department of State, Sciences Po University, George Washington University, The Aspen Institute, The Institute for Sport and Social Justice, and Meridian International Center on sport-based policy and programming.Recent notable projects include the development of a comprehensive Sports Diplomacy Course for Olympic and Paralympic athletes and administrators participating in Paris 2024 and co-leading a National Youth Sport Policy Agenda for the U.S.My work in sports diplomacy and gender equity has been prominently featured in major media outlets such as the LA Times, The New York Times, MSNBC and NBC.My mission is to leverage the power of sport to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities of our time.

Experience

1. Sr Director of Strategic Partnerships

   The Aspen Institute

   Feb 2025 — Present

   I lead strategic partnerships and cross-sector collaboration to advance the goals of 63x30, a national initiative to grow youth sport participation and access to 63% by 2030. In this role, I manage and activate multi-stakeholder work groups focused on media & storytelling, corporate brand engagement, education & resource development, and local league activations. I spearhead the 63x30 strategic planning efforts, while also fostering collaboration and sparking meaningful partnerships among 63x30 members.As part of this role, I also co-chair the Youth Sports Policy Roundtable and help shape the national Youth Sports Policy Agenda through facilitated discussions with key federal policy stakeholders. Additional activities include:* Driving long-term strategy & mobilizing media outlets, tech companies, sports brands, & sports leagues to shape a more inclusive and accessible youth sports ecosystem* Developing and tracking project plans, deliverables, and member engagement* Supporting major events including the Project Play Summit and annual 63x30 retreat

Education

• Eastern Kentucky University

  Bachelor's Degree, Kinesiology and Exercise Science

  2001 — 2005

• University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  MS, Sport Management

  2005 — 2007

• University of Tennessee, Knoxville

  PhD, Sociocultural Studies

  2007 — 2011