Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Ashley Lawrence came to Barry University with a clear passion for creativity and an interest in business marketing. Drawn to Barry’s “small but big” feel, she appreciated the intimate classroom environment where professors know students by name, paired with the large community that Barry represents.

As a business marketing major with a knack for social media marketing, Ashley thrives on creating content that feels fresh and outside-the-box.

Ashley recently won the title of Miss Junior during Barry University’s FLASH Week, and it was a turning point she never expected. As a freshman, she struggled to find her place on campus and didn’t picture herself as someone who would hold a title representing her class. “If you told me freshman year that I’d win Miss Junior, I wouldn’t have believed you,” she says.

Her campaign centered on one powerful message: be yourself. Growing up, Ashley often felt left out and struggled to embrace the very things that made her unique. Running for Miss Junior became an act of self-acceptance. “If I had won or lost, at least I know that I was myself through and through.”

Ashley is also a student employee at the Barry Ad Company, where she gains hands-on, real-world experience. She has found a supportive community, developed her skills, and has even met some of her closest friends through her work there.

Her experience with Barry’s Orientation Team (O-Team) has been equally transformative. As a freshman, Ashley longed for the sense of community she had in middle and high school, and O-Team gave her exactly that. She also marks her first year on O-Team as her breakthrough moment, realizing that she was a true asset to the community. Hearing former freshmen tell her how much she helped them feel comfortable and confident made all her efforts feel meaningful.

Ashley is a great example of the changemakers that Barry University develops. Students who grow into leaders and are guided by both purpose and the ability to make a real difference in their communities.