March 29, 2021
Ashley C. Kenneth Named TCI’s New President and CEO
Kenneth continues in her visionary leadership of the Institute, key in strengthening recent work
The Board of Directors of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, a research organization advancing state policy that improves the lives of people of color and people with low incomes, has named Ashley C. Kenneth as the organization’s next President and CEO. Kenneth, most recently TCI’s Senior Vice President for Policy and Legislative Affairs, has served as the Institute’s Interim President and CEO following the departure of founding president Michael Cassidy after 15 years of service.
Ashley is a strong leader who brings the expertise, lived experiences, authenticity, and passion needed to continue the great work of TCI and move the organization forward in its mission to, among other things, advance racial and economic justice in the commonwealth.
Latoya Asia, Board Chair
“I am beyond delighted at Ashley’s elevation to President & CEO of TCI,” said the Institute’s board chair Latoya Asia. “Ashley is a strong leader who brings the expertise, lived experiences, authenticity, and passion needed to continue the great work of TCI and move the organization forward in its mission to, among other things, advance racial and economic justice in the commonwealth. On behalf of TCI’s Board of Directors, I congratulate Ashley and look forward to continuing to work alongside her in her new role.”
“I am both humbled and excited to be named President and CEO of TCI,” said Kenneth. “I feel deeply called to the work of securing racial and economic justice in Virginia, a place where my own resilient ancestors were once enslaved. I look forward to forging strong partnerships to create lasting policy change that centers impacted people across the commonwealth.”
I feel deeply called to the work of securing racial and economic justice in Virginia, a place where my own resilient ancestors were once enslaved. I look forward to forging strong partnerships to create lasting policy change that centers impacted people across the commonwealth.
Ashley Kenneth, President and CEO, The Commonwealth Institute
In her most recent role at the Institute, Kenneth led TCI’s government relations efforts and worked to maximize the impact of TCI’s policy analysis and legislative engagement while strengthening collaboration with partner and community organizations. She was instrumental in the work to put Virginia on a path to a $15 minimum wage and remove some racist exemptions from Virginia’s minimum wage law, educating lawmakers alongside members of Care in Action, SEIU512, New Virginia Majority, and other organizations.
“I am always proud to work alongside Ashley and The Commonwealth Institute to advocate for economic and racial justice,” said Alexsis Rodgers, Virginia State Director at Care in Action. “Ashley understands that a strong economy depends on raising standards for Black and immigrant women. Her leadership at TCI was instrumental in raising the minimum wage, passing historic domestic worker protections and setting the framework for an equitable economic recovery. I am excited for Ashley to lead TCI as President and CEO, and I look forward to our continued partnership in service of working people and a stronger, more inclusive Virginia.”
Ashley understands that a strong economy depends on raising standards for Black and immigrant women. Her leadership at TCI was instrumental in raising the minimum wage, passing historic domestic worker protections and setting the framework for an equitable economic recovery.
Alexsis Rodgers, Virginia State Director, Care in Action
Kenneth recently worked with lawmakers and advocates to advance legislation that would allow key leadership to request racial and ethnic impact statements for criminal justice related bills. The new law will equip the General Assembly to consider the potential impacts of select criminal justice legislative proposals on communities of color, and could be a tool in reversing the harmful impacts of past choices and create a more equitable justice system in Virginia.
“For the past fifteen years, the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis has been vital in advocating for equity for all Virginians. Since joining TCI as senior vice president, Ashley brought greater clarity and focus on racial equity in TCI’s policy analysis, which has resulted in significant policy changes that address the needs of some of our most vulnerable populations,” said Tram Nguyen, Co-Executive Director of New Virginia Majority. “I am excited to continue to work with Ashley in her new role as TCI’s president and CEO as she leads the organization on its next chapter to continue to build a Virginia that works for all of us.”
Since joining TCI as senior vice president, Ashley brought greater clarity and focus on racial equity in TCI’s policy analysis, which has resulted in significant policy changes that address the needs of some of our most vulnerable populations.
Tram Nguyen, Co-Executive Director, New Virginia Majority
Prior to joining The Commonwealth Institute in 2019, Kenneth worked as Director of Advocacy and Policy for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society where she was responsible for policy development, analysis, and volunteer engagement in Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia. In that role, she worked alongside TCI and the Healthcare for All Virginians Coalition to bring health coverage to over 400,000 people in the commonwealth with low incomes through Medicaid expansion.
The Commonwealth Institute conducted an internal and external search to identify Cassidy’s successor.
“Ashley’s commitment to advocacy for public policies designed in partnership with people most impacted, coupled with her ability to effectively lead key fiscal and policy research efforts, are ideal and will no doubt take TCI to new heights,” said TCI’s board chair Latoya Asia.
Kenneth was named interim President and CEO in February and officially stepped into the role on March 24.
