Ashley is transitioning from a former career as a ballet dancer to a field of medicine, science, and groundbreaking clinical research. She graduated magna cum laude with a performing arts degree in the Liberal Education for Arts Professionals (LEAP) program at Saint Mary’s College of California. While focusing on her artistry as a ballerina, she enjoyed traveling the world and experiencing unique cultures. In her dance career, she was awarded the Princess Grace Award, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Performing Arts Medal, and the Chris Hellman Award, among other newspaper and magazine features. While she appreciates and values her time in the dance world, she has always known that she would like to pursue a career in medicine one day.
She enjoys volunteering at the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and the Shanti Project, where she was named the Spotlight Volunteer in Shanti’s Spring 2019 Newsletter. She provides emotional support and practical assistance for both children in the hospital and aging adults with disabilities in Shanti. Compassion for elderly people with dementia is a value that is essential in society and to Ashley, so she researches and assists with projects that enhance their quality of life at the UCSF Edward and Pearl Fein Memory and Aging Center and the Decision Lab, specifically the Genes, Brains and Decisions project. The knowledge, experience, and abilities she learns while working at UCSF’s world-class facility will better prepare her for her future.
She is also passionate about social justice, serving underrepresented communities, and finding creative ways to educate about brain health, such as hosting Brain Health Bingo games with community partners. In addition to the Black Leadership Advisory Council (BLAC), she is a member of the UCSF Fein Memory and Aging Center’s Outreach Program Team.
In her spare time, she enjoys swimming, hiking, reading, dancing, and Pilates.