Ashlee E. Jensen

Ashlee is the Executive Assistant to the Dean of the College of Health and Human Services (CHHS), where she serves as a strategic partner to the Dean, member of the CHHS Leadership Team, and coordinator of administrative support for the College.

In addition to working at UNCW, she is a proud Seahawk alumnus. While obtaining her MSW, (class of 2020) she became passionate about the synergies that existed between higher education administration and social work. While in the MSW program, she gained experience in macro practice at her internship with the American Red Cross, piloting a case management internship program where MSW students gained macro practice and field site supervision skills and BSW students learned generalist case management skills. Prior to working for UNCW, Ashlee provided direct care to clients for community mental health and substance abuse agencies, advancing to qualified mental health professional before transitioning into management roles.

Ashlee is currently obtaining her Ph.D. in Social Work from the Joint Program at UNC-Greensboro and North Carolina A&T University. Her research focuses on the transformative learning that takes place during study abroad, and strategies to enhance learning in short-term faculty-led modalities. Ashlee's other research interests include: application of social work theory in higher education administration, the role of the institution in student, faculty, and staff mental health and well-being, human rights informed approaches to working with vulnerable populations, and the intersection of social work for natural disasters and environmental justice.

Education

MSW, University of North Carolina Wilmington
B.A. in Sociology, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill

Professional Service

• CHHS Collective Impact Advisory Council, member, 2024-present
• CHHS Race, Equity, and Social Justice Advisory Council, member, 2022-present
• UNCW Staff Senate, Member 2020-2024
o Co-Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, 2022-2024
o Member, Bylaws Committee, 2023-2024
o Member, Engagement Committee, 2020-2023
o Member, Staff Priorities Committee, 2020-2022
• CHHS Globalization, Culture, and Diversity committee, administrative support 2023-24 and 2015-2017
• UNCW Fall 2020 Planning Team, administrative support, 2020: senior administrators, government and hospital officials, and community partners reported on modifications to teaching, research and service models to continue UNCW operations through various pandemic scenarios while prioritizing health and safety.
• CHHS Faculty Advisory Council, administrative support, 2019-present
• Serve as search committee chair, member, support, and/or assistant coordinator for various Dean, Director, and Staff positions, 2015-present
• CHHS Administrative Staff Advisory Council, Chair, 2017-2018 and Member, 2015-2022
• CHHS Strategic Planning Task Force, administrative support, 2016-2017
• CHHS Research Advisory Council, administrative support, 2016-2017
• CHHS Innovation Advisory Council, administrative support, 2016-2017
• CHHS Clinical Research Workforce Development Core Implementation Team, administrative support, 2015-2017
• CHHS Quality Assurance and Assessment Committee, administrative support, 2015-2016
• UNCW Talent Development Advisory Board, member, 2015-2016, served on the committee responsible for piloting Talent Development Plans and Full-Cycle Performance

Community Engagement

• Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Team, 2021 - present: a collaborative effort between the UNCW School of Social Work and local community partners.
• American Red Cross, Disaster Case Management volunteer, 2018 – present
• Megan Cajigas Education Foundation Advisory Council, member, 2018 – 2022

Honors & Awards

• UNCW Staff Award for Excellence Nominee in the category of Customer Service, 2022
• UNCW Leadership Enhancement and Administrative Development (LEAD), Class of 2021
• UNCW Staff Senate Scholarship Award, 2018
• UNCW Staff Senate Scholarship Award, 2017