Degree: M.S. Agriculture, Natural Resources & Design, Dec 2018; B.S.Agr. Animal & Nutritional Sciences, Equine Studies minor with an emphasis in equine management, Dec 2014
Career: Ashley is an agribusiness development planning coordinator
with the West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) in southern
West Virginia. She acts as a local liaison, coordinator, and facilitator,
helping develop agriculture projects and assist agribusinesses. Her responsibilities
include helping farmers and producers with business plans, production plans,
pricing of produce, finding the right market, label review or networking
and connecting them to the right people. Before starting at the WVDA, Ashley was an administrative secretary with WVU Extension Service in Nicholas County,
West Virginia.
Working Student Experience: As an undergrad, Ashley worked at the JW Ruby Research Farm as a horse unit working student. That position landed her an internship with WVU Extension Service as a Planning and Marketing Intern for the WVU Reedsville Arena. Both of these positions helped her gain leadership, communication, and time-management skills needed for her current job.
WVU Student Organizations: Ashley was Vice President of the WVU Collegiate Horsemen’s Association and represented WVU as a national delegate for the annual American Collegiate Horsemen’s Association convention. This student organization helped her learn how to build relationships with people from all backgrounds that shared a similar passion; networking skills that she still uses today.
About Attending WVU: “What made my time at WVU special was being involved in equine studies classes, as a working student, and taking advantage of the volunteer opportunities that were presented to me. Once you find your niche, figure out how you can be involved and show you are willing to spend time outside of class to learn or help. Introduce yourself to classmates, ask for help from peers and mentors, and prove yourself to your professors. The relationships I made in college are still helping me network and gain opportunities to this day!”