Weslynne Ashton

Weslynne Ashton is a Professor of Environmental Management and Sustainability at Illinois Institute of Technology, with joint appointments at the Stuart School of Business and the Institute of Design. Her research focuses on transitioning socio-ecological systems toward sustainability and equity, emphasizing cleaner production, circular economy, and urban food systems. She holds a Ph.D. from Yale University and has led projects such as the U.S. State Department-funded Pathways to Cleaner Production in the Americas and the Jefferson Science Fellowship at USAID. Her work bridges academia, industry, and policy, addressing sustainability challenges in diverse contexts like post-industrial regions and small island states.

• Education: B.S. Environmental Engineering (MIT), M.S. and Ph.D. Environmental Science (Yale)
• Affiliations: Stuart School of Business, Institute of Design, Armour College of Engineering

Research interests include industrial ecology, circular economy, sustainable urban development, and social entrepreneurship. She co-directs the Food Systems Action Lab, addressing food waste and local sourcing. Notable projects include strategic energy planning for USAID and training programs in cleaner production across Latin America and Asia.

• Awards: Jefferson Science Fellowship (2018)
• Grants/Projects: Pathways to Cleaner Production, USAID strategic planning, Multiscale RECIPES NSF project

Her interdisciplinary approach integrates design, business, and engineering to create systemic solutions for sustainability challenges.