Ashley Belle

Ashley J. Belle, Phd,  has over 14 years of experience in land-grant University Extension systems, where she has excelled in designing, implementing, and evaluating high-impact, research-based environmental education programs tailored to community needs. Belle addresses statewide issues related to waste management, land contamination, and air pollution. Previously, she was the Sediment Remediation Extension Specialist with Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, acting as a liaison to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Great Lakes National Program Office. Her expertise in developing partnerships and community-based environmental programming to support contaminated sediment remediation and habitat restoration projects in U.S. Areas of Concern earned her international recognition with a Western Dredging Association Environmental Excellence Award.

Belle is passionate about educating others on generating renewable energy from waste materials through anaerobic digestion. She advocates for conservation education, encouraging individuals to utilize natural resources wisely and adopt environmentally sustainable practices in their daily lives. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals such as The Journal of Extension, Bioresource Technology, and Biomass & Bioenergy. 

Education

Belle holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental Science and Technology from the University of Maryland, a Master of Science in Environmental Sciences from Louisiana State University, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Dillard University. Her career has been dedicated to advancing environmental stewardship and education.

Areas of expertise 

Recycling, waste management, environmental remediation, and conservation.

Professional affiliations 

Sigma Xi, the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals, the North American Association for Environmental Education, and the International Association for Great Lakes Research.