
Ashley Finley
- Vice President of Research and Senior Advisor to the President, American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U)
Ashley Finley is the vice president for research and senior advisor to the president at the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). She was previously associate vice president for academic affairs and founding dean of the Dominican Experience at Dominican University of California and a national evaluator for Bringing Theory to Practice. Currently, Finley oversees AAC&U’s research agenda through the coordination of projects and reports on pressing issues in higher education. She also advises on strategic initiatives to support member campuses. Finley’s campus engagements focus on aligning learning outcomes, vocational exploration, and assessment with students’ holistic development and equity. Her publications include How College Contributes to Workforce Success, A Comprehensive Approach to Assessment of High-Impact Practices, and Well-Being: An Essential Outcome for Higher Education. Finley received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master’s degree and Ph.D., both in sociology, from the University of Iowa.