Ayana Ledford

Executive Director of Progress

Ayana A. Ledford joined Carnegie Mellon University's H. John Heinz III College's School of Public Policy and Management as the Director of Progress in January 2006. Prior to starting with Carnegie Mellon University, Ms. Ledford worked for the Bloomfield-Garfield Corporation, partnering with Wireless Neighborhoods, in an effort to expand and coordinate community efforts with the Pittsburgh Public Schools in order to target and remedy the pronounced literacy deficiencies of the city's African-American and lower income children.

Her extensive experience working with nonprofit organizations with varying sizes and clients throughout Southwestern Pennsylvania on areas such as board development, business planning, fund development, and organizational effectiveness was acquired during her professional career as the Research and Program Associate for the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University.

At Carnegie Mellon University, Ms. Ledford is responsible for executing the mission of PROGRESS which is to undertake and disseminate research on issues related to gender equality and to develop partnerships to provide programs for girls and young women. Her degrees include a BA in Sociology from Dickinson College and a MSW from the University of Pittsburgh with a focus on community organizing and social administration.