David S. Schless has served as president & CEO of the American Seniors Housing Association (ASHA) since its creation in 1991. ASHA is comprised of senior executives from the nation’s leading developers, owners, operators, and financiers of purpose-built, professionally managed seniors housing. ASHA provides thought leadership related to quality and innovation, research, strategic business information, and influences legislative and regulatory matters.
With over 30 years of experience, David has been involved in many of the industry’s most significant research studies during this time. He has an intimate understanding of policy and regulatory issues, an in-depth knowledge of the business of seniors housing, and helped launch the industry’s first-ever consumer education initiative, “Where You Live Matters” (www.WhereYouLiveMatters.com).
David serves as treasurer of the Seniors Housing Political Action Committee, the oldest and largest PAC focused exclusively on supporting federal candidates who support the development and preservation of quality housing and services for seniors.
David co-authored the HDR Affordable Seniors Housing Handbook, which was revised and published 10 times between 1995 and 2005 by Thomson West. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Center for Aging and Human Development at the University of Connecticut, and a Master of Science degree from the Department of Applied Gerontology/Center for Studies in Aging at the University of North Texas.
David was appointed to the CARF International Advisory Council in 2022, and has served on the editorial board of the Seniors Housing & Care Journal since its inception. He co-chairs the Alzheimer’s Association’s Brain Ball Committee and has been honored as a Distinguished Alumnus by both the University of Connecticut and the University of North Texas. He is also a member of the Advisory Board of the Cornell Institute for Healthy Futures as well as the Granger Cobb Institute for Senior Living at Washington State University.