Amy L. Ast

Amy L. Ast was appointed as the director of the Ohio Department of Youth Services in December 2021, returning the veteran youth services professional to the agency she served from 1996 through 2017.

In her prior roles with DYS, Director Ast served as Bureau Chief of Facility Operations from 2008 to 2017. Earlier roles included superintendent and management positions at DYS facilities and in policy positions in DYS’s central office. In the private sector, Director Ast worked from 2018 through 2021 for Rite of Passage, a nationwide company that provides evidenced-based, trauma-responsive, and innovative services to youth and families. She most recently served as regional director of compliance.

Director Ast holds a master’s degree in management from Ohio Dominican University and a bachelor’s degree in communications from Ohio University.