BA, Africana Studies, Barnard College

As a student of color at Bay, Ashley helped to lay the groundwork for student groups and conversations that continue to help us improve as a school and community. A formative class was African American Women’s Literature, taken her junior year at Bay. “It was the first time in my educational history that I was learning about folks who looked and spoke like me. Reading about Black people by Black people validated who I was and showed me that this kind of literature is worth studying as a critical part of U.S. and world history.” This was one of the experiences that led her to major in Africana Studies. Ashley is an avid reader, writer, and former contributor to an educational blog on topics related to college readiness, transition, and persistence. Having gone through the college search process at Bay (with some mentors who are now colleagues!), Ashley brings a lot of insight that helps our students see themselves and forge their own path. 

Precept affinity: We value the richness of difference and diversity; we don’t praise ourselves at the expense of another; we don’t bully or haze. “We all bring various parts of ourselves to school that we choose to show, but we also have part of ourselves that we don't show/express. Bay is a place that helps us shed those layers so that we feel more comfortable and confident showing up with more of ourselves than we did the day before.”

Favorite Acre lunch: Curry chicken with coconut rice