Engineering Tomorrow: Dr. Morris’s Path in STEM and Passion for Mentoring the Next Generation

Fast forward to high school and Ashley was accepted into the Kentucky Governor’s Scholar Program (GSP) where she spent 5-weeks at Eastern Kentucky University studying her preferred program of engineering. Ashley still speaks fondly of GSP to this day and remembers crying when her parents came to pick her up at the end of the program because she simply did not want to leave. The GSP experience was an incredible opportunity for Ashley, where she formed new friendships and ideas, embraced her independence, honed her leadership skills, and nurtured her inquisitive spirit. This was also Ashley’s first formal introduction to the field of engineering. One of her favorite memories was working with a group of friends to design, build, and race a cardboard boat.

Unfortunately, Ashley struggled to relate to some of the engineers who were brought in to teach about the field. It was the early 2000s, and the field trips and engineering lectures were limited to one or two engineering disciplines. “We would take field trips and it was usually to mining or civil engineering firms. While I now understand those to be excellent career paths, at the time I couldn’t really see myself in either of those disciplines,” Ashley says. “I just didn’t know how multi-faceted the field of engineering could be or where I might fit”. In addition, the engineering lectures were presented as dry and boring, led primarily by much older men. Overall, Ashley feared engineering might not be the right fit for her after all.

Ashley attending the Kentucky Governor’s Scholar program while in High School

After GSP, Ashley began her undergraduate studies at the University of Kentucky with a major in finance, unsure of her career goals. After some progression, Ashley realized she wasn’t passionate about the business field. Fortunately, Ashley stayed interested in the work of her friends, who were students in the College of Engineering.

“I had friends in the college of engineering who really enjoyed it, and I had discovered finance wasn’t for me, so I decided I really needed to revisit engineering,” Ashley says. “And I’m so thankful that I did!”

Ashley changed her major to mechanical engineering and began trying to catch up on her coursework. It was in 2007 that a friend approached her about a possible position at CAER. Dr. Matthew Weisenberger was finishing his PhD and needed an undergraduate student to assist him with tensile testing of carbon fibers. Ashley was hired and got to work assisting Matt in the lab. Ashley’s early days at the center allowed her to engage in hands-on research which subsequently laid the foundation for the advancements she’d soon make in the lab. As part of her undergraduate position, she assisted Matt in the development of CAER’s solution spinning line, used to produce carbon fiber precursors. The spinning line is now considered the largest solution spinning line at an academic institution in North America. She remained under Matt’s mentorship as she completed her BSc and MSc Mechanical Engineering degrees and was hired as a full-time engineer in the CAER Carbon Materials Group in 2011.

While working full-time at CAER, Ashley began coursework in 2015 toward her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering. In November 2021, she successfully defended her PhD while 7 months pregnant with her first child. She recalls writing her dissertation while pregnant: “Looking back, I don’t know how summoned the energy, while pregnant, to come home from a full day of work, go to my home office, and write for hours,” Ashley says. “I definitely would have preferred to nap!”

Currently, Ashley is a principal research engineer at CAER, a role she’s held since 2016. In addition to experimental work, the position includes responsibilities such as project management, funding acquisition through proposal writing, authorship of reports, presentations, and peer reviewed publications, and mentoring staff and students. In this position, Ashley doesn’t get to do as much hands-on material processing as she has in the past. However, she still tries to make time to get into the lab frequently to check on processes, perform materials characterizations, and help others, which makes those days in the office that much more exciting. One of her favorite parts about her work is the people she does it with. Ashley loves collaborating with her team.

Ashley is among a new generation of women engineers who are paving the way for women in science. According to the Society of Women Engineers, in 1980 only 20% of material scientists were women, compared presently to 36%. Progress is being made, slowly but steadily. In a field traditionally dominated by men, women in scientific research often face unique challenges.

Ashley’s daughter, Emma, is now 2.5 years old, and she and her husband, Jad, also welcomed a baby boy, William, in 2023. He is now a year old. Ashley loves her roles of being both an engineer and a mom. While it can be a lot to balance kids and work, Ashley has felt extremely supported by CAER and her boss, Matt Weisenberger, now CAER Associate Director.

“Matt has two kids of his own and he’s been through this. He understands the challenges that come with trying to balance work and family,” Ashley says. “Everyone, regardless of whether you have children or not, has a personal life they have to balance with the expectations of their career. As a supervisor and team member, it’s important to remember that and to be supportive of others.”

There have been a lot of strong, intelligent scientists who have paved the way for people like Ashley; and have been wonderful examples of perseverance through the adversaries of a largely male-dominated field. Ashley strives to be a good example of work ethic and attitude to the younger scientists, engineers, and students who enter CAER. When asked what advice she would give to other young people, Ashley says:

“Believe in yourself. Focus on what you want to do. Find encouraging mentors who cheer you on toward your goals, through all of the ups and downs you may encounter. Don’t let one bad experience derail you from pursuing what you love.”

There are many people (too many to name!) whom Ashley would like to thank for instilling a love of science in her and helping her realize her potential. She is grateful for her siblings and parents, who are always extremely supportive of any venture she chooses to take. Ashley specifically says that her mother has always been her inspiration and cheerleader and is the epitome of a strong woman. She is blessed by a family that has no shortage of independent, driven, and focused women. Her husband, Jad, has been by her side daily as she completed her degrees and continues to pursue her career ambitions. Ever supportive, and an amazing father to their children, she would not be where she is today without him. Ashley has been inspired by so many teachers throughout her life, but is particularly grateful for her middle school teacher, Ms. Dunn, who encouraged Ashley and helped her further cultivate her love of math. And, of course, she is thankful to CAER’s Dr. Matt Weisenberger for taking a chance on a new engineering student with zero experience, and for training her in how to think and work as an engineer. It is because of the support and encouragement of those around her that Dr. Ashley Morris is the engineer she is today. It isn’t easy balancing the multifaceted roles of being a mother, wife, and researcher, but the field is adapting to become more inclusive of ALL scientists. Dr. Morris hopes she can be a strong mentor to those who need guidance finding their place in the world of STEM.