CHSS Alumni Service Award - Burnett

Ailsa Ware Burnett

BS Public Administration '93, MA Sociology '96, MPA '07

Ailsa Ware Burnett has more than 26 years of experience working with court-involved youth. Since July 2016, Ailsa has worked as the director of Juvenile Intake Services with the Fairfax County, Virginia Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court. Burnett is responsible for the overall operation of the agency’s intake department, which includes diversion programming, developing partnerships with community stakeholders, and developing policy and procedures in accordance with the local and state governing authorities. Prior to her work with Juvenile Intake, Burnett spent approximately six years as the director of the Foundations Program, an adolescent treatment program for court-involved girls. In this position, she provided oversight of the operation of the program, as well as the treatment services for youth who were placed in the facility. 
 
Burnett has held many positions within the agency, such as assistant director of the foundations program, assistant director of the shelter care facility, residential counselor, juvenile probation and intake officer, and as a hearing officer. 

Burnett is currently the historian of Mason’s alumni association and has previously served as a director-at-large. She also enjoys participating as a career day panelist for Mason’s Early Identification Program and has coordinated Fairfax County’s local government night for graduate students enrolled in the Master of Public Administration program. 

Burnett is active in her community. She is the immediate past president of the Prince William County Virginia Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and has served as a regional legislative committee member for the organization. She is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. When she is not working or volunteering, Burnett enjoys traveling, spending time with her family, and attending her teenage son’s sporting events.