Ashley Yinger
Ashley Yinger, Ph.D., is an accomplished educator and criminal justice professional currently serving as an Assistant Teaching Professor of Criminal Justice in the School of Public Service at Elizabethtown College. With a career spanning higher education, public service, and criminal justice administration, Ashley brings a wealth of practical and academic expertise to her students. She is dedicated to fostering hands-on learning experiences that connect classroom theory to real-world applications, preparing students for meaningful careers in the field. Before joining Elizabethtown College, Ashley served as an Assistant Professor and adjunct instructor at Penn State University and Shippensburg University, where she guided undergraduate students through the complexities of criminal justice system. She also held key administrative and consulting roles, including Criminal Justice Programming Administrator and consultant at the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, providing leadership in case management, program development, and community engagement initiatives. Ashley earned her Ph.D. in Criminal Justice and Corrections from Walden University and holds a Master of Science in Criminal Justice from Kaplan University. Her professional focus combines evidence-based practices with community-oriented approaches, emphasizing experiential learning, mentorship, and advocacy. Outside of her academic work, Ashley has volunteered extensively in community services, including case management at homeless shelters and outreach for financial exploitation prevention, reflecting her commitment to public service and social impact.
• Certificate in Corrections
• Online Teaching Higher Education
• Shippensburg University- B.S.
• Kaplan University- M.S.
• Walden University- Ph.D.
• Honors
• Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences
• American Society of Criminology
• Cumberland County Juvenile Probation
• AmeriCorps
• Carlisle CARES
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being a first-generation college student and witnessing the struggles of others growing up, which inspired me to help people—while always striving to leave every place better than I found it. Having support and guidance of many throughout the years has also brought growth, strength and encouragement, which greatly attributed to my successes as well.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received came from my mentors, who taught me to lead with integrity, stay curious, never give up, and always consider the impact of my work on the community—lessons that continue to guide me every day.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would advise young women entering this field to never give up, always be open to adapt, to communicate with empathy when people are at their lowest, and to approach every interaction with with an opportunity to learn and help, while always advocating for themselves and being able to care for themselves. Remember- we can cannot care for others, if we are are not at our best.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest opportunities are careers. Many criminal justice and behavioral health jobs are in high need. Any reforms- change is hard and may be harder for someone already working in the field compared to someone with no experience. For a student entering the field from college, this could be new opportunities.
Challenges can be change, whether that is not being able to make changes or helping someone or others that you cannot. Funding barriers or lack of services.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value service, collaboration, and creating meaningful impact in my work, like when I helped implement the Co-responder program at the District Attorney’s Office. In my personal life, I prioritize family, friends, health, and balance—spending time with my husband and young son, running, and walking our two Labradors. We enjoy going to the beach and I am a big Philadelphia Eagles fan!