The Engaging Local Government Leader (ELGL) Board of Directors is excited to announce the appointment of two new members — Ashley Copeland and Ayushi Roy. They were selected from a competitive applicant pool of 29 candidates.
They each add new skills, background, and experience to the ELGL Board and will allow the Board to better serve and reflect ELGL membership.
“Ashley and Ayushi are perfect for advancing our mission to engage the brightest minds in local government,” said Kent Wyatt, ELGL co-founder. “Their experience will be crucial as we refresh our strategic plan, develop creative approaches for engaging our members, and continue grounding our work around equity and inclusion.”
Their board terms begin on August 1, 2021. They replace current board members Jordan Hillman, City of Jackson, Mississippi and Samantha Harkin, City of Lansing, Michigan, whose terms are expiring.
ELGL thanks Jordan and Samatha for their leadership. Despite the challenges from the unprecedented COVID-19, the board of directors and staff have grown ELGL membership, cohort programs, and virtual events.
ELGL will recognize the outgoing board members and new board members at #ELGL21 in Denton, Texas.
Bios
Ashley Copeland
Ashley Copeland is Communications Manager for the City of Newnan, Georgia. Before making a career move to local government, Ashley spent most of her career leading communications and marketing strategies and initiatives for healthcare organizations such as Piedmont Healthcare and Tenet Healthcare for more than ten years. In her current role, she works closely with city administration, Mayor and City Council, and the city’s residents to lead all internal and external communications for the city. Additionally, Ashley serves on the board of directors for her local affiliate Newnan-Coweta Habitat for Humanity. Ashley is a proud graduate of the University of West Georgia and holds a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications. She lives in Newnan, Georgia, and loves scrapbooking, journaling, organizing, attending sporting events and concerts, going on new adventures, trips to the beach and mountains, and spending time with her family.
Ayushi Roy
Ayushi is the Director of State & Local Government Technology at 18F, the digital services arm of the United States General Services Administration. In her personal time, Ayushi runs a media non-profit focused on civic engagement called We Who Engage and competes in the World Marathon Majors. She enjoys giving back to her city by serving as a Commissioner for the Oakland Public Library, as a Court-Appointed Special Advocate, and as a public gardener. Previously, she helped build Oakland City Hall’s first innovation team, co-founded an SMS hotline for student safety at public universities, and served on the Equity Advisory Committee for the San Francisco Human Rights Commission. She is an alumna of Columbia University and MIT, with additional training in conflict mediation.
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