Ashley Bell Barnett

Bio

Ashley Bell Barnett is a dedicated community advocate with a strong focus on education and sustainable community development. She serves on the Florida Board of Governors for the State University System, Polk State College District Board of Trustees since 2018 and has held numerous leadership roles within the Polk State College Foundation Board. In addition to her work in higher education, Barnett is actively involved in various organizations including the United Way of Central Florida Board of Directors, Southwest Florida Water Management District, and Lakeland Regional Hospital Foundation Board, among others.

The Barnett family was part of the founding of The Children’s Movement of Florida, and has made extensive investments in early learning and literacy, particularly through the statewide early literacy mentoring initiative, ReadingPals.

Barnett has participated in multiple leadership programs such as Leadership Florida, Leadership Los Angeles, and Leadership Polk. She has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the National Athena Award, AFP Philanthropist of the Year, and Girls Inc. She Knows Where She's Going Award, and is a recent recipient of the Florida Community Hero Award.

Ashley holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of South Florida and a bachelor's degree from Florida Southern College. A fifth-generation Floridian, she lives in Winter Haven with her husband and two daughters. Ashley is passionate about travel, especially to Southeast Asia, sailing, nature, music, and theatre.