Ashley Williams (’15)

“I met the majority of my lifelong friends at CBU. Some were sisters in ZTA, others I met while acting as their CARL or peer counselor, some were classmates. No matter how we met, the community I found at CBU was a loving and welcoming one.”

Ashley Williams was a very active student at CBU. She loved participating in events like Up ‘Til Dawn and September of Service. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha (and served as its Vice President), the HeBrews Club, and the Creative Writing Club. She was also participated in the CBU Sustainability Coalition, and served as a Peer Counselor and a CBU Advising Registration Leader (CARL). She was named Outstanding CARL for the 2014-2015 school year.

“Being a Peer Counselor is what truly set my life on its current trajectory,” Ashley says. “I realized my love of education and being able to come alongside someone, meet them where they are, and help them discover their potential and meet their goals.” She says that realization caused her to change her major to Liberal Studies with a Religious Studies minor.

While studying education in the Liberal Studies program, Ashley took an internship at the Collegiate School of Memphis, a private Christian middle and high school — and she has been there ever since. Since her graduation in 2015, she has held positions as Intern Coordinator, 8th Grade Communications Instructor, Cheerleading Coach, and Dual Enrollment Coordinator. She currently works as the school’s Registrar and High School Bible Instructor. She is also currently enrolled in CBU’s MAT program, working towards her 6-12th grade English teaching license.

Ashley is also active in her community. She lives and works in the Binghampton and Highland Heights neighborhoods and regularly performs volunteer service in them, whether it’s clearing off abandoned lots, picking up trash, or volunteering at the Carpenter Art Garden.

Doing my best to serve my community is one of the best lessons CBU taught me. All of the faculty and staff at CBU had servant hearts, and it was evident when interacting with them that everyone would do whatever they could to help you. I loved the idea of serving my community, whether at CBU or beyond it after graduation. Luckily for me, I get to serve my community every day through my career in education. I strive to be there for my students, their families, my colleagues, and our community — and to always do so with a positive attitude.