Where Are You Wednesday: Ashlie Jensen
#WhereAreYouWednesday w/ Ashlie Jensen
Date: Feb. 16, 2022
Tell us a little about your background. Where you from or grow up? Did you go to WSU? What did you study at WSU?
I grew up in Arlington, WA, and went to Lakewood High School. I made the move to Pullman in 2012 to pursue my degree in Elementary Education. I graduated in 2014 but decided that my time at WSU wasn’t over. I received my Ed.M in Educational Leadership in 2016 and stayed in Pullman to teach/coach in the Pullman School District until 2020.
What has been your favorite thing about WSU, as well as the College of Education?
I love the Pullman community. WSU and Pullman are unique because of the small-town feeling you get when walking around. People smile when they see you and genuinely want to help you. I got to experience WSU as a student and as a community member for eight years of my life. I loved being a student in the College of Education and having practicum students in my classroom. And now, whenever I travel, I make sure to wear my WSU gear! I usually get a “Go Cougs!” no matter what airport I am at in the world.
Why is being a land-grant university special?
The responsibility to provide practical research and implementation opportunities that will not only benefit the university but potentially the world. This makes land-grant universities unique because of the hands-on experience and partnerships with the community to make a lasting impact.
If you could improve one thing about WSU, what would it be?
If I could improve one thing about WSU, it would be the resources for non-traditional pathway students. The transition to WSU was challenging to navigate being a Running Start student (being a Junior in credits, but still a Freshman).
What do you currently do? Tell us about your NOW life!
I am currently in my second year of teaching 8th grade Social Studies at the American School of Dhahran in Saudi Arabia. I moved 7,000 miles away from home in the middle of COVID, and it has been a life-changing experience. WSU and the Pullman School District prepared me to take on this exciting adventure in my teaching career. I also am coaching U14 soccer as well as U14, U16, and U19 basketball. It has been great to see athletes back on the field/court! I hang out with my dog, watch WSU sports (at crazy hours), travel, play basketball, golf, camp, and rock climb with my friends in my free time.
What makes you an agent of change?
I believe all teachers are agents of change, it’s why we go into the profession in the first place. I am an agent of change because I believe in empowering my students to reach their full potential both in academic and non-academic endeavors. I travel and teach in different parts of the world so that I keep learning about people and cultures that are in my classroom.
What is something unique about you. Something interesting that someone may say makes you YOU!
I am a “yes” woman. This usually means that you will see me running all over the place after school with clubs and sports, but it’s important for me that students see me outside of the classroom and in it. If students, teachers, friends, or strangers need something, I will try to make it happen. I don’t want students to miss out on opportunities because no one volunteered.
Favorites:
Food: Tacos
Restaurant in Pullman: South Fork Public House
Book: Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank
Band: *NSYNC
Song: Back Home (Andy Grammar)
Movie: Coach Carter
TV show: The Blacklist
Favorite Coug Sport: Football
Hobby: Rock Climbing
Vacation spot (you’ve been to): Ireland
Dream vacation spot (somewhere you’d like to go): Tanzania