Allison Spensley

Allison Spensley is a highly experienced, dynamic global health leader with over two decades of professional experience centered around improving the health and wellbeing of girls, adolescents, and women. Ms. Spensley’s areas of expertise include strategy development, including strategic and business planning, and execution of organizational vision; relationship and partnership cultivation; capacity building; policy, advocacy and program development in maternal and child health and HIV prevention and care. She has worked directly with national governments to develop strategy, adapt policy, and support program planning and implementation. Ms. Spensley has worked with USG, local and international NGOs, multilaterals, and private philanthropy, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), UNICEF, Family Health International, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, and served as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Ms. Spensley has lived and worked in Zambia, Malawi, Peru, and Nicaragua, with work experience in over 18 countries focusing primarily on east and southern Africa.

Ms. Spensley holds a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Sociology from Rhodes College, a master’s degree in Public Health from the University of Alabama Birmingham, and a master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Alabama. Ms. Spensley returned to the US in 2018, where she is pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Alabama Birmingham, focusing on agency, empowerment and leadership in girls, adolescents, and women.