Her Story
About Ashley
I have been passionate about government affairs and legislation since I was young, probably starting around my teenage years. This passion led me to study political science in college at the University of Houston, where I graduated in 2012. But I was also deeply interested in serving my community, so after college I served 5 years as a teacher at the middle school where I actually attended as a student. During that time, I pursued my Master of Arts in Public Policy from Liberty University, which I completed in 2017. When an opportunity opened up in Austin, which was where I always wanted to go, I was able to combine my graduate degree with my real-life experience in the education field to start helping with education policy. I also spent time working at a state agency that had 7 missions across the state of Texas, and that diversity of work really helped me develop my policy skills in the state capital. For the past 3 years, I have been serving as Chief of Staff, and one of my favorite things about this role is that there is no such thing as a typical day. Every day looks different - one day I could be working on a bill, the next day I'm trying to do casework for an elderly woman who can't get her Medicare benefits right. Last year, I was named one of the top legislative staffers by U.S. Ledge after being nominated by my peers, which was a tremendous honor and validation of the work I do.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ashley
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my faith and my family. Both are very important foundations in my life that have supported me throughout my career journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to never say no, because you'd be surprised what kind of opportunities can come from an unexpected phone call. This advice has really shaped how I approach my career and has opened doors I never would have anticipated.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to find a good mentor. I was fortunate to find my mentor when I started in the government affairs world through campaigns - she was actually a friend of my candidate. While the candidate and I don't really talk that much anymore, my mentor and I are very, very close. Having that mentorship relationship has been absolutely invaluable to my career, and I can't stress enough how important it is to find someone who can guide you through this field.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is that every day is different, which means there's always a lot of irons in the fire. The key is knowing how to juggle well. You have to be able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously - one day you could be working on a bill, the next day you're doing casework for an elderly woman who can't get her Medicare benefits right. That constant variety and the need to balance so many different responsibilities is both a challenge and what makes the work exciting.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are honesty and loyalty. These principles guide how I approach my relationships, my work in public service, and how I interact with the people I serve.
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