Ashika Brinkley

Photo | J. Fiereck Photography Ashika Brinkley

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Program Director of Health Sciences and Public Health, Goodwin College

Age: 39

Town where I live: Wethersfield

Town where I work: East Hartford

College: Morgan State University

Highest degree: Doctorate of Philosophy in Public Health

Who is your favorite superhero? She-Ra

Ashika Brinkley is the program director of Health Sciences and Public Health at Goodwin College, a career-focused, nonprofit institution. She is responsible for over 2,000 students, developing curriculum, assessing program outcomes, supervising faculty and cultivating community relationships. Before assuming this role, Brinkley worked as a public-health practitioner in healthcare, research and nonprofit settings, including as the executive director of the Connecticut Association of Directors of Health.

What’s been your biggest professional accomplishment so far in your career?

I'm proudest of my doctoral research at UConn that focused on the impact of work stress on the health of community health workers, a vulnerable group of public health workers. My career has consistently focused on improving equity for historically under-represented groups.

How are you involved in the community?

I am a member of the Institute for Community Research Institutional Review Board and State Innovation Model (SIM) Community Health Worker Advisory board. I also serve on the board of the Connecticut Women’s Legal and Education Fund and the United Way of Greater New Haven.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I enjoy volunteering with organizations that help level the playing field for women and girls. What I most enjoy, however, is time with family, traveling and sharing good food with close friends.

Four reasons why you deserve to be a 40 Under Forty:

• Designed and managed a major public health program at Goodwin College.

• Program director for the largest program at Goodwin College.

• Volunteer evaluator at the local, regional and national level including as a federal grant reviewer, Public Health Accrediting Board site visitor, Higher Learning Commission peer reviewer.

• Community volunteer leader: Yale School of Public Health Class Agent, past president of the Junior League of Greater New Haven, Connecticut Women’s Education and Legal Fund board vice president.