“A deep-rooted belief that there is brilliance in every young person and that we must create opportunities for young people to achieve their highest aspirations draws me to the work of The Skillman Foundation every day.”   

Ashlee Schmidt serves as the director of Program & Operations Integration at The Skillman Foundation. 

In this role, Ashlee works across the organization to design, strengthen, and implement processes and practices to foster greater efficiency, integration, and ultimately impact of the Program & Strategy team. Ashlee joined the Foundation in 2019 and has managed grant portfolios and partner relationships related to policy, advocacy, and civic partnerships and led the Foundation’s Wellness Works Initiative.  

Prior to joining the Foundation, Ashlee began her career as an English language arts teacher in New York City through Teach For America. After completing her master’s in public policy at the University of Michigan’s Ford School of Public Policy, Ashlee worked at the U.S. Department of Education for several years, managing a variety of federal discretionary grants and programs. Ashlee also holds bachelor’s degrees in education and English from the University of Dayton. 

Ashlee was born and raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and now resides in the Detroit Metro area with her husband, daughter, and dog. 

Areas of expertise:
Experience working in the education ecosystem, leading projects and process management, maximizing efficiency and productivity, and connecting ideas and people

How I can help partners:
Making connections with Program & Strategy team members; Understanding and navigating the Foundation’s grantmaking process

Some of my favorite things:
Adventures with my daughter, traveling, running, and Michigan summers

How I reenergize:
Spending time outdoors, getting lost in a good book, doing jigsaw and crossword puzzles