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In this episode, Dr. Dione D. Somerville sits down with Bryan Ashton, the chief strategy and growth officer of Trellis and head of Trellis Strategies. Trellis is a nonprofit corporation with a mission to develop and advance initiatives that grow individual economic mobility and expand community prosperity. Bryan's career trajectory has been marked by a deep commitment to enhancing the financial literacy and success of college students.

Ashton’s journey began at Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, where he pursued a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in accounting. He went on to get his Master’s of Education with a focus in Higher Education from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education.

Before starting with Trellis more than eight years ago, Ashton had spent six years working in financial wellness and student affairs at Ohio State, where he developed a keen understanding of the challenges students face in financing their education.

Ashton is also co-founder of the Higher Education Financial Wellness Alliance, a network of professionals dedicated to bringing together post-secondary organizations to inform national conversations that impact the financial wellness field, public policy and educational support services.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Ashton is a sought-after speaker and advocate for higher education reform. His work is driven by a belief in the transformative power of education and the importance of equitable access to financial resources. His commitment to student success is reflected in his leadership at Trellis, where he continues to champion initiatives that empower students to navigate the financial complexities of higher education with confidence and resilience. His approach combines data-driven research with community engagement, fostering collaborations that lead to meaningful policy changes and support services for students.