Ashley Allison Speaking Engagements, Schedule, & Fee | WSBAshley Allison is an American political strategist and media executive. She served as a senior staffer in the Obama-Biden administrations and as National Coalitions Director for President Biden’s 2020 campaign. Allison also held leadership roles in civil rights organizations (serving as Executive Vice President of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights from 2017–2021). Today she runs her own consulting and media companies and appears as a political commentator on CNN. (For example, she founded Watering Hole Media and has been a CNN contributor.)
Early Life and Education
Allison grew up in Mississippi and later attended the Ohio State University, where she earned her undergraduate degree. She went on to earn a master’s in education and a Juris Doctor (law degree) from Brooklyn Law School. Before entering politics, she taught special education at a Brooklyn high school. (Her academic focus included public interest law, with specialties in housing rights, voting rights, and racial equity.)
Career and Professional Roles
Ashley Allison’s career spans government, advocacy, and media. Key highlights include:
- Obama White House (2014–2017): She was Deputy Director and Senior Policy Advisor in the White House Office of Public Engagement. In that role she coordinated outreach on civil rights, criminal justice reform, and community affairs.
- Civil Rights Advocacy (2017–2021): Allison served as Executive Vice President of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. There she oversaw national voting-rights and anti-discrimination campaigns, helping to protect and expand access to the ballot for underrepresented communities.
- Biden 2020 Campaign: She was National Coalitions Director for the Biden-Harris campaign, leading nearly 500 staff and fellows to organize diverse voter coalitions (young voters, Black, Latino, AAPI, Indigenous, etc.). She also directed outreach for the Biden-Harris presidential transition team.
Consulting & Media Ventures: Allison co-founded Turner Conoly Group (a strategic consulting firm) and is CEO of Watering Hole Media, a content company focusing on cultural and political issues. In 2025 her company announced the acquisition of The Root, an online publication, returning it to Black ownership.
Media & Commentary: She is a regular CNN political commentator (and has appeared on other networks). Allison also hosted a podcast called Pod for Cause and frequently appears in TV and print media discussing elections, equity, and social issues.
Board and Civic Leadership: Reflecting her advocacy work, Allison chairs the Color of Change PAC board and serves on the Free Press Action Fund board. These roles underscore her ongoing commitment to racial justice and voting rights.
Media Appearances and Public Profile
Allison’s public profile includes TV and news features. She often speaks on CNN’s programming as a political analyst. In 2025, Allison gained national attention twice:
The Root Acquisition: In October 2025, NPR reported that Ashley Allison’s Watering Hole Media acquired The Root, marking the long-running site’s return to Black ownership. Allison discussed this milestone in interviews, emphasizing her vision for the outlet.
CNN Panel on DEI: In early 2025, during a CNN NewsNight segment on diversity initiatives, Allison engaged in a heated exchange with panelists. She stated that she had been “the least paid person on payroll at every institution I’ve worked in”, a comment she linked to her experiences as a Black woman. This on-air remark was widely reported and discussed by media outlets.
Apart from TV, Allison is active on social media. Her Instagram (@ashley_r_allison) and X (Twitter) profiles highlight her roles (CNN analyst, media CEO, etc.) and share her commentary on current events.
Personal Life
Ashley Allison keeps her personal life private. Public records and interviews do not disclose her date of birth, exact age, or details about her family and relationships. (Searches for personal information such as age, height, or marital status yield no verified data.) She focuses publicly on her professional work and advocacy.
FAQ
Who is Ashley Allison? She is a U.S. political strategist and activist who worked in the Obama administration and was a senior advisor in the Biden-Harris campaign. She later led civil rights campaigns and now heads media and consulting firms. Allison is also known as a CNN political commentator.
What has she done in politics? Allison has over 15 years of experience in elections and policy. She helped run President Obama’s outreach in key states (e.g. organizing African American turnout in Ohio in 2012) and later joined the White House Office of Public Engagement (2014–2017). In 2020 she directed coalition operations for Joe Biden’s campaign.
What are her current roles? She is the founding partner of Turner Conoly Group and CEO of Watering Hole Media. She frequently appears as a CNN commentator and contributes to media on topics of politics and culture.
Why was she in the news recently? In late 2025, her media company’s purchase of The Root made headlines. Earlier in 2025, a CNN panel featuring Allison went viral after she spoke about pay equity and stated she had always been the lowest-paid employee at her jobs.
Is she married or does she have children? There is no public information on her marital status or family. She has not discussed a spouse or children in media or interviews.
How old is she? Her age is not publicly listed, and her birth date is not publicly known. (Some unverified sources suggest she was born around 1982, but this is not confirmed in reliable references.)
What is her education? She completed a bachelor’s degree at Ohio State University, earned a master’s in education, and received a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School.
Where can I follow her? Allison is active on social media. For example, her Instagram (@ashley_r_allison) and X account share her latest projects and commentary. She also has LinkedIn and other profiles reflecting her professional work.
Conclusion
Ashley Allison is a notable figure in U.S. politics and media, with a track record in campaign strategy, public advocacy, and journalism. She has worked at high levels of government and civil rights organizations, and she now channels her experience into media entrepreneurship and analysis. While her personal life remains private, her professional achievements are well-documented. For updates on her work, one can follow her official social media channels or news outlets that cover political commentary.