Weslynne Ashton is a distinguished Professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology, holding a joint appointment at the Stuart School of Business and the Institute of Design (ID), where she also co-directs the Food Systems Action Lab. As a sustainable systems scientist, her work is dedicated to guiding socio-ecological systems towards sustainability and equity, with a keen interest in the adoption of responsible business strategies and the role of innovation and entrepreneurship in tackling social and environmental challenges. Her research is deeply rooted in industrial ecology and the circular economy, focusing on enhancing sustainability and equity in urban food systems, regenerative economies, and more.

Weslynne's academic journey began with a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering from MIT, followed by master’s and doctoral degrees in environmental science from Yale University. At Illinois Tech, she teaches Systems and Systems Theory in Design and Design for a Changing Climate at ID, advises PhD students, and is actively involved in the Anti-Racism Working Group.

Before her tenure at Illinois Tech, Weslynne contributed to Yale University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and gained industry experience in Trinidad and Tobago and Cambridge, MA. Her significant contributions to the field were recognized with a Jefferson Science Fellowship, where she worked on modernizing energy systems in Southeast Europe and the Black Sea region with USAID.

An invited speaker at numerous national and international forums, Weslynne’s insights on circular economies and regenerative strategies have been widely disseminated. Her scholarly work has been published in prestigious journals, and she has been honored with the AEESP/Mary Ann Liebert Publishing Award for Publication Excellence in Environmental Engineering Science, marking her as a leading voice in sustainable systems and environmental management.