Ashley Carruth
Executive Director
A lifelong Coloradan, Ashley Carruth became SJMA’s Executive Director in 2026. Growing up with Colorado’s mountains and rivers as a backyard inspired Ashley’s commitment to expanding public lands access and outdoor education for communities across the state. After completing a BA at Dartmouth College and an MA in Policy, Organization and Leadership Studies at Stanford University, Ashley moved to Durango in 2011. She has developed a deep sense of place and community rooted in the ridgelines and scree fields of the San Juan Mountains and the labyrinthian canyons on the Colorado Plateau.
A longtime public school educator, she most recently served as Dean of Experiential Education at Animas High School, where she led place-based programming and environmental education for students and staff. Ashley is the co-founder of San Juan Mountain SOLES, a non-profit that provides outdoor leadership and stewardship experiences for local high school students. She also has taught avalanche education courses and coached for Durango DEVO.
As SJMA’s Executive Director, she works to advance stewardship, expand community engagement, and strengthen the health of the region’s public lands. Outside of work, you may find her exploring local trails by foot, ski, or bike with her spouse and two dogs, Hatch and Jumbo.
