Get to Know Ashley
Ashley always knew that UT San Antonio was where she belonged, but her path to walking the stage was full of unexpected turns. She had a hard time adjusting to college life, and her first attempt to obtain a degree was unsuccessful. However, she didn’t give up, and was later able to return and complete her degree program. Thanks to the university’s support, she graduated with an offer for a full-time position with UT San Antonio’s Human Resources department.
Choosing a Career
At first, Ashley entered UT San Antonio as a marketing major, but one day a social media post prompted her to attend an event from the college’s Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) student chapter. At the event, she was able to experience “A Day in the Life at Target,” and get a behind-the-scenes look at the human resources operations at a major company like Target. The event ignited a passion for the field in Ashley, and she quickly changed her major to human resources management.
Getting Career Ready
Ashley joined the SHRM and gained a leadership role as director of finance. She acted as a representative for the organization at various events including the SHRM National Conference in San Diego, where she also had the opportunity to meet national leaders in the field. While at this conference, she learned that UT San Antonio’s HR department were interested in hiring her for a work-study position, which eventually became an offer for a full-time position. She entered her new career confident and prepared thanks to being one of the first graduates of the Alvarez College of Business’ Career Compass program – a comprehensive professional development program that helps students gain the knowledge, skills and experiences they need to succeed in their future careers.
"The moment I got that email saying, ‘Welcome back,’ I cried. I knew UTSA was where I was supposed to finish [school]."