Ashley Unique Turnbull, M.Ed.

Ashley Turnbull is an educational psychologist who has dedicated her work to cultivating students’ racial identity development, understanding academic motivation and engagement among Black students, and addressing racial implicit bias against Black students. She holds a B.A. in sociology and a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and a master’s degree in Education from Lipscomb University. Currently, she is pursuing a PhD in Educational Psychology from Howard University. She is a former middle school teacher who is passionate about enhancing educational experiences for students of color, specifically through teacher development and improved instructional practices. 

Ashley currently works as a program analyst with the U.S. Department of Education where she has done pivotal work, including program evaluation and developing a training framework. Furthermore, with over five years of classroom experience, along with serving as a Culture Specialist and Diversity and Inclusion Facilitator for preservice teachers, and as a mentor teacher for novice teachers, Ashley offers expertise as an instructional coach for educators and a professional coach for leaders. 

Her experience as both an educator and a researcher provides her with unique aptitude that is valuable in effectively bridging research and practice. Her understanding of motivational factors among Black students and the socio-cultural factors that relate to educational experiences informs her research and practice. She aims to highlight the strengths of Black students as counter-narratives against negative stigmas in order to provide positive messages to youth about their identities. Her passion for equitable opportunities and access for individuals who belong to historically marginalized groups drive her to excel as a transformational change agent in education.