Ashley was born and raised in Fresno. She developed a passion for nonprofit journalism while pursuing a bachelor’s in Sociology at Fresno State and working as Assistant Director at the grassroots organization No More Slumlords. Returning to Fresno State for a master’s degree in Public Administration, Ashley joined the student newspaper, The Collegian, where she received multiple awards for her coverage of local topics. Ashley continued to work with nonprofit organizations like Centro La Familia Advocacy Services upon graduation, solidifying ten years of experience in local journalism, storytelling and communications.
Ashley is the Journalism & Storytelling Program Coordinator, leading The kNOw Youth Media, Multilingual Storytelling and Youth Artivism, and supporting Journalists of Color. Ashley’s work in these programs serves to support and equip over 50 young people each year with the journalism and advocacy skills needed to share stories of their communities and prepare for a potential career in journalism.
In their free time, Ashley enjoys watching horror films, attending concerts, and traveling.