Her Story
About Dawna Ashley
Dawna Ashley Hunter is an Operations Manager at GCU CityServe, a nonprofit organization in Phoenix, Arizona, whose career has been shaped by a strong commitment to service, community engagement, and helping others. Originally pursuing a path in education, Ashley discovered CityServe while looking for student employment and began in 2021 as a part-time administrative assistant. What started as a student job soon developed into a meaningful career, leading her through roles in partner engagement, fulfillment, volunteer coordination, and pod relations. These experiences strengthened her belief that meaningful community change happens when people are willing to step forward and work together.
As Pod Relations Manager, Ashley built relationships with churches and faith-based nonprofits throughout Arizona, visiting more than 100 organizations and helping develop a network of more than 200 community partners. Through this work, she gained firsthand insight into challenges facing communities in the Phoenix area, including homelessness, housing instability, economic hardship, and access to basic necessities. Today, as Operations Manager, Ashley helps oversee daily operations and volunteer training while continuing to support partnerships and initiatives that serve marginalized communities. Her leadership is also deeply influenced by her faith and her belief in trusting God's plan, which played an important role in her decision to pursue a career in nonprofit service.
Ashley has made continued education an important part of her professional development. She earned her bachelor's degree in educational studies from Grand Canyon University and recently completed a Master of Public Administration with an emphasis in nonprofit management, further strengthening her knowledge of nonprofit leadership and organizational operations. Beyond her professional responsibilities, she has remained engaged in community service through organizations including Aid to Women's Center, Heaven's Healing Hands, and House of Jubilee. Looking toward the future, Ashley hopes to establish a workforce development nonprofit that creates opportunities for individuals who have experienced homelessness or incarceration, helping them develop skills, secure meaningful employment, and move toward greater stability and independence.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dawna Ashley
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my passion for service, community, and faith, along with my willingness to trust God’s plan for my life. What began as a student job with GCU CityServe grew into a meaningful career, allowing me to build partnerships with churches and faith-based nonprofits, support volunteers, and serve communities facing challenges such as homelessness and economic hardship. My experiences have strengthened my commitment to nonprofit leadership, and completing my master’s degree in public administration with an emphasis in nonprofit management has further prepared me for my goal of creating a workforce development nonprofit that helps individuals rebuild stability, confidence, and independence.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the nonprofit industry is to lead with open hands and an open heart. This field changes quickly, and new needs can arise every day, so be willing to embrace the unexpected, remain flexible, and approach each experience with a genuine desire to learn, serve, and make a difference.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in the nonprofit field are the constant changes, funding limitations, and evolving policies and political climate. Because the needs of communities can shift quickly, nonprofit organizations must remain adaptable and responsive while finding sustainable ways to continue serving those who depend on them.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are service, compassion, faith, and creating sustainable solutions that make a lasting difference. Through my community involvement, particularly with Native American communities, I have learned the importance of listening to people’s needs and addressing challenges with dignity and long-term solutions rather than simply providing temporary assistance. Whether supporting infrastructure projects, home repairs, or an individual facing an immediate need, I believe meaningful service is about showing up, caring for others, and helping create safer, more stable communities.
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