Ashesi University is sponsored by Ashesi University Foundation, a non-profit, publicly supported US corporation based in Seattle, Washington. The Foundation's efforts are led by an experienced Board of Trustees and Advisory Board composed of academic and industry representatives from the US and Ghana who share a vision of establishing an institution that will train Africa's future leaders.

Executive Team

Adzo Ashie
Dean of Student & Community Affairs
Mrs. Ashie worked as a Research Associate for the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy in Washington, DC and as Education Director for Orphanage Africa before joining Ashesi University as Associate Director for Career Placement.  She was promoted to Dean of Student and Community Affairs in 2006.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Relations from Mount Holyoke College, and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and Administration Degree from University of Massachusetts, Amherst, focused on Educational Policy.

Nana Araba Apt
Dean of Academic Affairs
Prior to joining Ashesi, Prof. Nana Araba Apt taught Sociology and was Director of the Centre for Social Policy Studies at University of Ghana. She earned undergraduate degrees in philosophy, psychology and English from Queen's University of Canada, a Masters in Social Work from University of Toronto, Canada, and a PhD in sociology from University of Ghana.

Carol Asamoah
Director of Admissions & Strategic Planning
Before joining the Ashesi team, Carol was the Director of the MBA Career Management Center for Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Prior to a career in higher education, she also spent several years in financial services working for both Goldman Sachs & Co. and Bank of America Securities. Carol earned her BS in Finance from Hampton University and her MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

Patrick Awuah
Founder & President
Before founding Ashesi, Patrick worked as a Program Manager for Microsoft Corporation. He holds bachelor degrees in Engineering and Economics from Swarthmore College, and an MBA from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business.  In 2004, Swarthmore awarded Patrick an honorary doctorate in recognition of his leadership in African higher education. Patrick Awuah was nominated a Global Leader 2007 by the World Economic Forum; and in recognition of his service to Ghana, was awarded Membership of the Order of the Volta by His Excellency, President J. A. Kufuor. He is a fellow of the Africa Leadership Initiative (a branch of The Aspen Global Leadership Network), a member of the United States Council on Foreign Relations, the Pacific Council on International Policy, and the United States Tau Beta Pi honor society for excellence in engineering.

Matthew Taggart
Associate Director of Development
Mr. Taggart joined Ashesi University Foundation in 2001 as a Development Associate.  He worked closely with the founding team to raise the funds needed to begin instruction at the University.  In 2005 he was promoted to Associate Director of Development.  Mr. Taggart holds a BA in Liberal Studies from Western Washington University.