Carolyn Ashton is an Associate Professor, 4-H Youth Development in the College of Health at Oregon State University. She has been involved with Extension for over 25 years in both Oregon and Illinois. Currently, she administers the Benton County 4-H Youth Development Program in Benton County which includes over 200 adult volunteers, 500 4-H club members, and over 2,500 school enrichment participants.

Carolyn leads an older youth leadership team, the Benton County 4-H Ambassadors, with 25 active 4-H members promoting Benton County 4-H throughout the county. She is a Co-Advisor of the Oregon State 4-H Ambassadors, as well as an active member of the Statewide 4-H Summer Conference. Her areas of interest include older youth leadership, healthy living, mentoring, and volunteer recruitment, development and management.  She is also the County Liaison for Benton County Extension, partnering with county government and area agencies to promote Extension. Her hobbies include golfing, cycling and baking.