Ashlee Leavell
Assistant Dean for Student Wellness and Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Areas of Expertise
Disability, Testing, and Pregnancy
BIOGRAPHY
Ashlee is a native of Russellville, Arkansas, and grew up coming to the ATU campus with her dad, who taught Secondary Education for the bulk of his career, and her mom, who completed two Master’s programs at ATU to further her expertise as a teacher, and later a school librarian. Ashlee developed a strong desire to work in a helping profession as she navigated life as a college student and graduated with her undergraduate degree in Rehabilitation Science. Shortly after graduation, she worked for a campus ministry at ATU where she further refined her passion for helping as she realized she had the ability to mentor college students and offer wisdom and a sounding board as they were making many pivotal life decisions during those years. Ashlee began working on the ATU campus in 2011 as the first administrative assistant in the newly-formed Office of Veteran Services, and soon began work on her master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs (known at the time as College Student Personnel). She graduated with her master’s in December of 2013, and began working as the Coordinator of Disability Services in Spring 2014. During her time working in Disability Services, Ashlee has held the leadership roles of Assistant Director for Testing and Disability Services (2018-2019), then Assistant Dean for Student Wellness (2019-present), a role in which she serves as the Director of Testing and Disability Services and a Deputy Title IX Coordinator, working with pregnant students at ATU. Ashlee is actively engaged in both learning about the newest trends and practices in the fields of Disability and Student affairs, and in training and educating others to increase awareness and inclusivity on the ATU campus and across the state. Ashlee serves on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas affiliate of AHEAD, the national organization for professionals in higher education and disability. Ashlee has presented and facilitated at the last two ArkAHEAD conferences, as well as many of the yearly trainings for student staff, graduate assistants, and faculty through the last ten years. She has also presented to other groups such as special education teachers in the public school systems, parents of college-bound students with special services in high school, the Arkansas Rehabilitation Association Conference (2024), and the Arkansas Transition Services Transition camp panel. When Ashlee is not working, she is usually spending time with her family or working on projects in her house or yard. She finds great peace when her hands are in the dirt and she is tending to her plants. She also enjoys cultivating her friendships and sipping on a great cup of coffee.
EDUCATION HISTORY
- B.A. Rehabilitation Science, Arkansas Tech University, 2006
- M.S. College Student Personnel, 2013
AWARDS & HONORS
- Shelly Stuart Lamberson Memorial Scholarship, 2005
- Commissioner’s Scholarship, Arkansas Rehabilitation Association, 2006
- Dean’s List, multiple semesters