Ashlee-Nicole Crump

Doctoral Student • Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

by Sarah DeVriendt

Ashlee-Nicole Crump is no stranger to Lexington or to education. Born and raised in a family of educators, Crump was inspired from an early age to continue helping and serving others inside and outside the classroom. “I think being an educator is just in my blood,” Crump said.

Crump began her college education at Berea College in Berea, Ky., where she played basketball, but her strong family roots kept her mind and heart focused on the importance of education. Once she earned her undergraduate degree from Berea, she was ready to move on to the next step in her life at the University of Kentucky, where she has already earned her master’s degree.

“I knew I’d be a part of a family and not just another student,” Crump said.

While Crump, now a doctoral student in the Department of Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation, plans to continue teaching and to become a top leader in education, “I would love to own my own business, be a motivational speaker and be a top leader in educational reform in the future,” she said.

Her community involvement, her strong support system and her belief in herself allow Crump to see life as one giant opportunity that she feels destined to grab. “I just want to be somewhere I can best serve those around me,” she said.