Ashley Kurtz joined the Yang-Tan Institute in 2026 as a Research Support Specialist. She contributes to research and evaluation initiatives focused on disability, employment, and youth transitions. Prior to joining the Institute, Ashley worked as an economist in both the public and private sectors, with experience in program evaluation, quantitative analysis, and mixed methods research.
Ashley currently provides research and evaluation support for several projects, including Navigating Pathways to STEM Careers: Perspectives of Autistic Students, Career Counselors, and STEM Employers; the Employer Assistance and Resource Network on Disability (EARN); and the Center for Advancing Policy on Employment for Youth (CAPE-Youth).
Ashley holds a Master of Arts in Economics from Queen’s University in Canada, where she specialized in labor economics.