Ashley Cleland

Ashley Cleland, M.Ed is the founding Associate Director in Intercultural Affairs for the new Women and Gender Office at ECU, which opened in January 2019. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Berry College as well as a Master of Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina. Ashley has presented at nationally on financial literacy, feedback, sense of belonging, and women in leadership.

In just over 18 months, Ashley has established the Women and Gender Office (WGO) as an important new resource on campus. Under Ashley’s leadership, the WGO continues to create a supportive, safe, and affirming environment for women, all genders, and gender equity allies in the ECU community and beyond. The WGO provides intentional opportunities for transformative learning through workshops, trainings, and experiences such as the first-ever Alternative Break Experience to Washington, NC where students met with locally owned businesses and nonprofits lead by women, volunteered with a domestic violence shelter, and learned about women in leadership, emotional labor, and compassion fatigue.

She has been recognized for her efforts as a recipient of the Diversity and Inclusion Award given by the Division of Student Affairs as well as the Keating Award, given to one faculty or staff member each year who has served as an outstanding advocate for students, by Omicron Delta Kappa.