In 2003-2004, Ms. Pearson managed the Red Cross’ September 11 Recovery Program-Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Intake Unit in NYC. She is the Director of Emergency Management Services at the Department of Mental Health (DMH). She coordinates DMH’s emergency planning and the State’s disaster behavioral health planning, response and recovery efforts. Trained in Community Based Post Traumatic Stress Management and certified trainer in Psychological First Aid, she serves as DMH’s liaison to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency. She is a member of the New England Disaster Behavioral Health consortium, co-chair of the Multi-State Disaster Behavioral Health Consortium and co-chair of the MA Disaster Behavioral Health Committee. She was a lead team member on Operation Helping Hand, the Hurricane Katrina response, working with evacuees statewide and has coordinated 19 events since then.

Ashley was the lead PI on the creation of the Disaster Behavioral Health for Emergency Room Department Staff, Building Emotional Resilience for Mass. Disaster Response Workers and Behavioral Health Disaster Responder trainings. Ashley is also an adjunct Senior Instructor with Cambridge College. She holds a B.S. in Human Services from Lesley University, a Masters in Public Administration from Suffolk University and is working towards Business Continuity Planning certification.