Ashleigh Backman (she/her) is the Deputy Director & Chief Operating Officer of the Connecticut Bar Foundation, where she translates strategic vision into operational impact to advance civil justice and equity statewide. A former civil legal aid attorney, with more than a decade of experience designing and leading high-impact pro bono programs and strategic partnerships, she has built collaborations with law firms, corporate legal departments, and access-to-justice organizations that have earned state and national recognition. 

Ashleigh has been recognized as Connecticut’s Top 40 Under 40, Connecticut Law Tribune Unsung Hero, United Way Impactful Woman nominee, and is a James W. Cooper Fellow. She’s an active member of the Connecticut Bar Association and Connecticut Asian Pacific American Bar Association (CAPABA) – where she serves as an Officer, Vice President of Operations. A believer in the power of pro bono, outside of the office, she volunteers her time representing asylum seekers with the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants (CIRI).