Ashlee Harrison Appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Huntsman Cancer Foundation
Oct 26, 2026
Takeaways:
Ashlee Harrison, MPA, will serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of Huntsman Cancer Foundation.
Huntsman Cancer Foundation is a charitable organization with a singular mission to raise funds to support Huntsman Cancer Institute.
Impact: Harrison is a highly respected and articulate leader who will build on the Huntsman family’s extraordinary legacy to expand donor engagement in support of cancer patients and their families.
Huntsman Cancer Foundation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Peter Huntsman announced today that Ashlee Harrison, MPA, will serve as President and Chief Operating Officer of Huntsman Cancer Foundation effective November 2, 2026. Huntsman Cancer Foundation is a charitable organization with a singular mission to raise funds to support Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah.
Huntsman noted that “Ashlee’s executive leadership experience coupled with extensive community relationships and deep knowledge of Huntsman Cancer Institute position her to hit the ground running at a time of exceptional opportunity for growth and impact. The members of the Board of Directors of Huntsman Cancer Foundation, including myself, University of Utah President Taylor Randall, former Zions Bank President and CEO Scott Anderson, and former Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO Mary Beckerle, PhD, have unanimously and enthusiastically endorsed Ashlee’s appointment as President.”
"Ashlee’s executive leadership experience coupled with extensive community relationships and deep knowledge of Huntsman Cancer Institute position her to hit the ground running at a time of exceptional opportunity for growth and impact."
Peter Huntsman
The Board also wishes to acknowledge the service and contributions of Michael Delzotti, FAHP, CFRE, who preceded Harrison at Huntsman Cancer Foundation.
Harrison’s comprehensive leadership experience positions her to lead Huntsman Cancer Foundation’s vital work in community engagement, advocacy, and philanthropy. Since joining Huntsman Cancer Institute 19 years ago, she has held senior leadership roles in marketing and communication, organizational transformation, and government relations. She also previously served in an interim capacity as Chief Operating Officer of Huntsman Cancer Foundation. Most recently, she has served as Executive Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Huntsman Cancer Institute. In this role, she established deep relationships with federal, state, and local policymakers, positioning Huntsman Cancer Institute as a trusted partner in addressing the cancer burden across the Mountain West and helping to secure legislative appropriations to support cancer research. She holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Utah.
Bradley Cairns, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Huntsman Cancer Institute, highlighted knowledge of Huntsman Cancer Institute’s mission, vision, and strategy as exceptional assets of the new president, noting, “Ashlee Harrison brings an extraordinary dedication to cancer patients and their families, along with the deep sense of urgency our founders, Jon M. and Karen Huntsman, instilled in all of us as we advance our mission. From her time in leadership at Huntsman Cancer Institute, she knows firsthand the power of philanthropy and the vital role of donors in accelerating progress in cancer research and expanded access to world-class cancer care.”
"Ashlee Harrison brings an extraordinary dedication to cancer patients and their families, along with the deep sense of urgency our founders, Jon M. and Karen Huntsman, instilled in all of us as we advance our mission."
Bradley Cairns, PhD
Huntsman Cancer Foundation has had the support of more than 1 million donors and has an extraordinary track record of securing support for infrastructure and research at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Harrison is a highly respected and articulate leader who will build on the Huntsman family’s transformative legacy to expand donor engagement in support of cancer patients and their families. A major goal is to bring Huntsman Cancer Institute’s exceptional research, clinical care, and educational opportunities closer to home for patients and community members. Current transformational projects include the new Huntsman Cancer Institute Vineyard campus in Utah County and Huntsman Cancer Institute cancer care at the University of Utah Eccles Health Campus and Eccles Hospital in West Valley.
“I could not be more excited about working with the Huntsman family and joining the talented team at Huntsman Cancer Foundation to advance the lifesaving work of Huntsman Cancer Institute,” says Harrison. “I have had the privilege of seeing remarkable advances in cancer research and care each and every day at Huntsman Cancer Institute. Jon M. Huntsman used to say: ‘Cancer moves fast and we need to move faster.’ Philanthropy is the fuel that makes that speed possible, and we have no time to lose.”
The critical research happening every day at Huntsman Cancer Institute is supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute, including cancer center support grant P30 CA042014, as well as Huntsman Cancer Foundation.
Media Contact
Heather Simonsen
Associate Director, Public Affairs
Huntsman Cancer Institute
801 646-4120
public.affairs@hci.utah.edu
About Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah is the National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center for Utah, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming. With a legacy of innovative cancer research, groundbreaking discoveries, and world-class patient care, we are transforming the way cancer is understood, prevented, diagnosed, treated, and survived. Huntsman Cancer Institute focuses on delivering the most advanced cancer healing and prevention through scientific breakthroughs and cutting-edge technology to create pioneering cancer treatments beyond the standard of care today. We have more than 400 open clinical trials and more than 300 research teams studying cancer. More genes for inherited cancers have been discovered at Huntsman Cancer Institute than at any other cancer center. Our scientists are world-renowned for understanding how cancer begins and using that knowledge to develop innovative approaches to treat each patient’s unique disease. Huntsman Cancer Institute was founded by Jon M. and Karen Huntsman.
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About Huntsman Cancer Foundation Huntsman Cancer Foundation's sole purpose is to raise funds to support the mission of Huntsman Cancer Institute: To understand cancer from its beginnings, to use that knowledge in the creation and improvement of cancer treatments, to relieve the suffering of cancer patients, and to provide education about cancer risk, prevention, and care. Huntsman Cancer Foundation is dedicated to ensuring excellence in these endeavors through the development and prudent stewardship of private resources. All fundraising for cancer-related initiatives at the University of Utah are overseen by Huntsman Cancer Foundation, which is a public, functionally integrated, Type 3 501 (c)(3). To learn more, go to HuntsmanCancerFoundation.org.
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