Ashleigh Thompson joined the JFK, Jr. Institute in 2003 as the Coordinator of Special Projects, and became the Associate Director in 2005. She now serves as Deputy to the University Dean for Health and Human Services and Deputy Director of the JFK, Jr. Institute. She oversees the grants and projects of the Institute. In particular, she manages the Youth Transition Demonstration Project, the Youth Studies Certificate and CUNY's MOU with the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation. Before coming to CUNY, Ms. Thompson worked in various nonprofit agencies and schools as a teacher and administrator, including the Richstone Family Center in Los Angeles, CA and the Cornelia Connelly Center in New York, NY. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Notre Dame, a master's degree in Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business, and is currently pursuing her doctorate in Urban Education at The Graduate Center at the City University of New York. On May 1, 2007, YAI/Premier Healthcare honored Ashleigh Thompson as the YAI Network Fellow for her doctoral research on Latinos and developmental disabilities.