Her Story
About Ashley
Ashley Cruder is a collegiate athletics professional with more than a decade of experience supporting and developing student-athletes. Entering her 11th year working in intercollegiate athletics her journey into this work began as a Division I track and field student-athlete at Florida State University before transferring to Auburn University, where she developed a strong connection with her academic advisor—one that would ultimately influence the direction of her career.
While pursuing her undergraduate degree she served as a CarShare Brand Ambassador with Enterprise Rent-A- Car. Upon graduating from Auburn, Ashley was offered a full time position with Enterprise Rent- A- Car where she worked for two years before returning to Auburn to pursue a master’s degree in Adult Education. During that time, she had the unique opportunity to work as a graduate assistant in the academics department alongside the advisor who had once supported her as a student-athlete. That experience helped shape Ashley’s approach to student-athlete development today.
She supports student-athletes through academic counseling, career development, and relationship-centered support. She believes some of the most meaningful impact happens through genuine relationships—whether connecting with a prospective student-athlete during recruiting, supporting a student through a challenge, or helping them recognize opportunities beyond their collegiate careers.
Ashley is passionate about creating environments where student-athletes feel supported, challenged, and prepared for what comes next. She maintains professional memberships with the National Association of Academic and Student-Athlete Development Professionals (N4A) and Women Leaders in Sports.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ashley
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to relationships, being willing to evolve, and never losing sight of the people at the center of the work.
Relationships have been at the heart of my career from the very beginning. As a student-athlete, I experienced firsthand the impact that a great advisor and mentor can have on your life, and that experience ultimately influenced the career path I chose. Today, I try to be that person for others. I believe that genuine relationships create trust, and trust creates opportunities for people to grow.
I also attribute my success to being willing to step outside of my comfort zone and embrace opportunities that have challenged me to grow. My career has evolved from being a student-athlete, to an intern to ultimately having a leadership position. Each role has taught me something different and prepared me for the next opportunity. I've learned that success isn't always about having the perfect plan; sometimes it's about being open to where your experiences can lead you.
Most importantly, I believe in being intentional about the impact I have on others. Titles and accomplishments are meaningful, but the relationships I've built, the people I've encouraged, and the opportunities I've helped create are what I value most. For me, success is not simply about how far I've progressed in my career, but about how many people I've been able to help move forward along the way.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is “be the head coach of your area and be where your feet are.”
I’ve learned that you should focus on doing excellent work, building genuine relationships, and leaving every place better than you found it. Your title may change, but your reputation, how you treat people, and the impact you have on others stay with you.
Over time, I learned that careers rarely unfold exactly as planned. Some of the most meaningful opportunities in my career came from relationships I built, experiences I didn't initially expect, and being willing to say yes to opportunities that challenged me to grow.
That perspective has allowed me to be more present in each stage of my career rather than constantly looking ahead to the next one. I’ve learned to trust that if I continue to grow, contribute, and invest in people, the next opportunity will come when it’s meant to.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering collegiate athletics would be: be intentional about building your reputation, your relationships, and your confidence. Do excellent work, be someone others can trust, and never underestimate the value of genuine relationships. This is an industry where people remember how you show up—not just what you accomplish. The relationships you build can shape your career in ways you may never anticipate.
I would also encourage women to take up space. You don't have to wait until you feel completely ready, or until you have every answer, to contribute your perspective. Ask questions, speak up, advocate for yourself, and be willing to pursue opportunities that may feel bigger than where you are at the moment. Confidence doesn't mean knowing everything; it means trusting that you are capable of learning what you don't know. Sometimes you just need to recognize the opportunity in front of you and be willing to grow from it.
Most importantly, don't allow your desire to advance in your career to come at the expense of who you are. Continue learning, stay curious, and surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow. Be confident in the value you bring to the room.
Working in collegiate athletics—particularly in football—has taught me the importance of having a strong voice, trusting my expertise, and being comfortable contributing to conversations that may challenge me. You don't have to know everything to have something valuable to say.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The industry is evolving so quickly, and in many ways, it feels unpredictable. The landscape we are navigating today looks very different from what it looked like even a few years ago, and I think that requires professionals to be adaptable, informed, and willing to continuously rethink how we support student-athletes.
Student-athletes are navigating more opportunities, more visibility, and more decisions about their futures than ever before. Our responsibility is to make sure they have the knowledge, resources, and support to make informed decisions while still prioritizing their academic, personal, and professional development.
Change creates opportunities to innovate, build new partnerships, and rethink what student-athlete support can look like. It also challenges us as professionals to continue growing rather than becoming too comfortable with the way things have always been done. I think the professionals who will have the greatest impact are the ones who can remain grounded in their purpose while being flexible in their approach.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are authenticity, relationships, growth, and purpose. I try to bring those values into every part of my life, both personally and professionally.
Authenticity is especially important to me. I believe in being true to who I am, knowing what I value, and not feeling like I have to change who I am. My career has taught me that you can be successful while still leading in a way that feels genuine to you. For me, that means being honest, being willing to speak up, and staying grounded in the person I want to be regardless of my title or position.
Relationships are equally important. I genuinely value people and believe that the way we make people feel and the relationships we build can have a lasting impact. Some of the most meaningful moments in my career have come from relationships that started in ways I could never have predicted. My own experience with an academic advisor as a student-athlete reinforced for me how powerful it can be to invest in people.
I also value growth. I never want to become too comfortable or assume that I have everything figured out. I want to continue learning, challenging myself, and being open to experiences that push me outside of my comfort zone.
Finally, I want my work to have purpose. I want to know that what I am doing matters and that I am making a meaningful impact on the people around me. Whether I am supporting a student-athlete, mentoring a colleague, collaborating with a coach, or helping create an opportunity for someone else, I want to leave people and the spaces I am part of better than I found them.
Ultimately, I think the values I carry into my work are the same ones I try to carry into my personal life: be genuine, invest in people, keep growing, and make your time and your influence mean something.
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