Ashley L.J. Gobert

Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA

Batten graduation year: 2017

Undergraduate school/major: Spelman College (Atlanta, GA), Political Science, 2013

Talk about an involvement or experience—internship, job, volunteer position or otherwise—that’s deeply shaped you.

My time at Spelman College and my teaching experience through Citizen Schools have deeply shaped my trajectory in life, both personally and professionally. Spelman is a conglomerate of black women committed to excellence, and I was surrounded by such positive affirmations of success that I had never really seen before. It gave me the intrinsic motivation to excel beyond what I thought was my potential.

Teaching 7th grade math for two years then gave me the opportunity to share my experience, and the beliefs I developed at Spelman, with kids who had grown up in communities similar to my own. Spelman had taught me that it was okay to care and to want to make a difference in someone’s life. It gave me the tools and skills to be an example for my students, while also allowing them make an impression upon me.

What brought you to Batten?

Similar to Spelman, UVA students have a strong sense of pride about their institution and what it represents in terms of standards of excellence. I couldn’t go from excellence to mediocrity and that was an integral part of my graduate school search. 

What sealed the deal for me to attend Batten was my experience at the Post-Grad Admitted Students Weekend, where Batten invites potential students to get a glimpse of what the school has to offer. Alumni and current students spoke about how they were supported by one another, as well as faculty and staff, in meeting the demands of the program. Being new to UVA, the aspect of a supportive community was a key component and a deciding factor for me.

What kind of public servant do you think the world needs today?

The ideal public servant is someone who reaps no benefits from the good they do, but serves because it needs to be done and those they serve can’t do it for themselves. No matter their skills, education or experiences, they are willing to do something that will work.

In 10 years, how do you hope the policy landscape has changed at large? And at the community level?

I hope the policy landscape is more inclusive. At present, I think the policy landscape does very little to represent everyone in the decision-making process, rather believing there are winners and losers when policy should be for the betterment and benefit of everyone. 

At the community level—my community—I would love to see more minorities taking interest in policymaking and all it encompasses. I would like to see more students of color enrolled in policy programs like Batten because our experiences and perspectives matter, and these students are the ones who go on to influence policy decisions.

Which issues do you think the 21st-century policymaker needs to pay special attention to?

I think the 21st-century policymaker needs to pay special attention to how the shift in demographics in the U.S. is impacting social justice movements such as Occupy Wall Street and Black Lives Matter. These movements spark discussion and debate about how systemic practices are doing more damage than good to a vast majority of the country while benefiting an elite minority of citizens.