Ashley is excited to be part of yli and help bring the Youth Wellness Center to life in Merced.
Prior to joining yli, Ashley was the Dual Enrollment Counselor/Coordinator at Reedley Community College where she coordinated and taught the various college courses to marginalized high school students across Fresno County rural communities. She has over 11 years of experience working with first-generation Central Valley students in the elementary, middle school, high school, and college levels.
Ashley is a proud first-generation Latina student at Reedley College from 2011-2015 and transferred to Fresno State to earn her B.A. in History in 2018. After graduating, she focused on real-world experience through active community engagement and nonprofit organizations. Some of her work includes Community Youth Ministries in Reedley, writing grants for Arte Americas in Fresno, and working with the U.S. Forest Service to promote fire safety in the Sacramento community. In 2020, she graduated from Central Valley Latino Leadership Academy’s 3rd cohort where she learned how to serve on boards and committees, advocating for marginalized communities, and important policy issues. From 2021-2023, she returned to Fresno State to pursue her Masters in Student Affairs & College Counseling and worked in various programs including Academic Success Coaching, the Transfer Success Center, Dog Days Orientation, and Educational Talent Search. In 2023, Ashley was nominated for the Graduate Dean’s Medalist Award for her contribution to the Fresno State Campus Community and completed her culminating thesis project, “Forever Changed: The Lasting Impact COVID-19 has on Latinx College Students and Higher Education.” Ashley is currently serving on two boards of directors – Student Liaison Chair for Fresno’s Leading Young Professionals and Member-at-Large Chair for CA College Personnel Association.
Outside of her day-to-day time, Ashley stays active by lifting weights and doing pilates. A few fun facts: she has a small clay earrings business, is originally from LA and San Bernardino, and actively visits Disneyland.