Ashely Hickson, senior health equity advisor and policy scientist, recognized as "40 under 40 in public health"

Ashley Hickson

Pear in mind: A blog in the public interest

Ashley Hickson has been named one of the “40 Under 40 in Public Health” in recognition of her work at CSPI. The de Beaumont Foundation announced its 2021 list today after reviewing profiles of hundreds of rising leaders in public health. The cohort was selected by a distinguished panel of public health professionals for their leadership and impact on their community’s health.  

“At a time when health professionals are being required to adapt and take on monumental challenges, we are incredibly proud of these leaders,” said Brian C. Castrucci, DrPH, president and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation. “We created the 40 Under 40 program to recognize and tell the stories of rising leaders who are making a difference in communities across the country. By promoting their work and accomplishments, we hope to attract and inspire a new generation of leaders.”  

In her role as a Senior Health Equity Advisor and Policy Scientist, Ashley works closely with CSPI’s program team to evaluate existing programmatic work and build out new initiatives through a health equity lens. She also leads the healthy retail project, which involves implementing state and local policies across the nation to improve the retail environment for consumers.   

“Ashley Hickson is a champion for health equity, social justice, and evidence-informed interventions,” states the de Beaumont Foundation’s profile on Ashley. “As an African-American woman who has lived in the South for her entire life, Ashley intimately understands how structural inequities widen health disparities either through action or inaction from stakeholders with decision-making power.” 

"I’m honored and humbled to be on the list with an impressive group of public health leaders,” said Ashley Hickson. “Thank you to the de Beaumont Foundation, and congratulations to all the honorees.” 

For more information about the 40 Under 40 in Public Health, including a full list of honorees, visit www.debeaumont.org/40Under40.  

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Dr. Ashley Hickson (she/her/hers) leads our organizational efforts in the areas of equity, justice, and social impact. She has over 13 years of diverse public health experience ranging from social worker to health informatician. Prior to joining CSPI, Ashley served as Director of Community Impact at the American Heart Association where she oversaw her market's food insecurity strategy through community-level policy, systems, and environmental change approaches. She holds an MPH from the University of Texas Health Science Center and dual degrees (BBA/BS) from the University of Texas at Austin. She earned a Doctorate of Public Health with a concentration in Health Equity and Social Justice from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She is a Bloomberg American Health Initiative Food Systems for Health Fellow, 2021 de Beaumont Foundation 40 under 40 in Public Health Honoree, and a member of several local and national public health boards, workgroups, and steering committees. In her free time she prioritizes activities that bring her joy, such as loving on her twin daughters. She is remote with a home office in Fort Worth, TX.

Ashley Hickson

Ashley Hickson, DrPH, MPH

Director of Health Equity and Social Impact

ahickson@cspinet.org