Ethan Ake-Little

I am a labor relations and human resources professional focused on helping complex public-sector organizations manage workforce strategy, labor relations, and organizational governance. I currently serve as a Senior Employee & Labor Relations Analyst in the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Labor, where I support the administration of collective bargaining agreements and workforce policy across 16 municipal unions representing more than 25,000 civil service employees. In this role, I assist in resolving grievances and arbitration matters, analyze collective bargaining history, and advise on contract administration and labor-management practices within a municipal government operating with an annual budget exceeding $7 billion.

Previously, I served as Director of Human Resources in two high-performing suburban school districts in Pennsylvania. At the Southern Lehigh School District, I oversaw HR operations for more than 425 employees serving approximately 3,150 students, managing a personnel budget exceeding $50 million, roughly 70% of the district’s $74 million annual budget. Earlier, at the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, I directed workforce strategy for a 525-employee organization within a $92 million operating budget. In both districts, I worked closely with superintendents and school boards on collective bargaining strategy, compensation planning, policy governance, and compliance oversight.

My career in labor relations began in organized labor. As Executive Director of AFT Pennsylvania, I led a professional staff supporting more than sixty affiliates representing roughly 36,000 educators and public-sector professionals statewide while managing a $2.5 million operating budget. Earlier, as President of the Temple University Graduate Students’ Association (AFT Local 6290), I represented more than 800 graduate employees and led the union’s fifth round of contract negotiations with the university.

I began my professional career in education as a biology teacher and later worked in education research and district-level STEM program development before transitioning into workforce leadership roles.

I hold a Ph.D. in Urban Education Policy from Temple University, an M.Ed. in Secondary Science Education from Chestnut Hill College, and a B.A. in History and Political Science from Drexel University. I am currently a J.D. candidate at Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, with a focus on Employment & Labor Law and an expected graduation date of May 2028. I also hold the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) credential and Pennsylvania Department of Education certifications in school administration and secondary instruction.