Recipient of a NEF scholarship, is pursuing her doctoral degree at the University of Texas at Austin, and intends to secure a nursing education faculty position, conduct research to improve patient outcomes. Her nursing experience has focused on helping patients cope with their diseases while maintaining dignity and experiencing optimal quality of life. This experience combined with a drive to positively impact patients on a larger scale motivated Ashley to enter graduate studies in 2012. Her bachelor’s in nursing from Pennsylvania State University in addition to her recent master’s in nursing from the UT Austin has laid the foundation for her career goals and helped prepare her for the full scope of nursing practice, research, and education. Her research focus is understanding and improving cancer survivors’ cognitive function. The American Cancer Society has funded her doctoral dissertation study. Throughout her studies she has been working as a teaching assistant in nursing and is now a graduate research assistant. She is currently a Certified Hospice and Palliative Nurse, President of the Central Texas Oncology Nursing Society and a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the Society of Behavioral Medicine, and the Southern Research Nursing Society.