Ashleigh Coster

Ashleigh brings 20 years of nonprofit leadership experience to her role as Executive Director of Paws & Think. After an extensive career with the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis, where she held multiple leadership positions and most recently served as the Association Intercollegiate Services Director, Ashleigh joined Paws & Think in December of 2022, blending her lifelong love of dogs with her passion for community impact.

Since joining the organization, Ashleigh has been continually inspired by the meaningful moments created every day through Paws & Think’s programs. From children discovering confidence during Paws to Read sessions, to young people and rescue dogs transforming one another in the Youth–Canine Program, to families and seniors experiencing comfort during therapy dog visits, she has witnessed the power of the human–dog connection across every corner of the community.

Ashleigh’s professional strengths include partnership development, grant management, program design, and strategic community engagement. Her focus is on expanding organizational sustainability while deepening Paws & Think’s impact across Central Indiana.

Originally from South Carolina, Ashleigh is a graduate of Clemson University and moved to Indianapolis in 2006 to begin her nonprofit career. Her love of dogs began early, with her first job in high school being at a local animal hospital, and she often describes this role as the perfect blend of her passions: pups and people. She lives in downtown Indianapolis with her wife, Kira, and their 15-year-old pug, Porky, who often rides along in his stroller on their downtown walks. Outside of work, you can find them hiking, biking around Indy and it’s amazing trails, traveling, and cheering on their favorite sports teams.

“I continue to be inspired by the compassion of our volunteers, the resilience of those we serve, and the transformational power of dogs. It is an honor to help lead an organization where joy, connection, and healing happen every day.”