Ashley Anderson '08, '12
Dr. Ashley M. Anderson received a Master of Science in Nursing with a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Specialty. In 2008, a certificate in Health Professionals Education in 2012 and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing in 2016, all from the University of Louisville. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Berea College in 2005. She was a record holding team Captain for Berea College’s Women’s Basketball team. Dr. Anderson participated in beauty pageants to take advantage of additional scholarship opportunities as she pursued her education. She won Ms. Kentucky United States 2013, Miss Black Ohio in 2010 and was crowned the 1st Miss University of Louisville in 47 years when the competition returned to campus in 2008.
Dr. Anderson is the founder and CEO of Athena Health and Wellness, a women’s health practice that is the first of its kind in Louisville, Kentucky. In 2020, she partnered with doTerra and launched an essential oil business to help promote natural healthcare in the western realm of medicine. She is a family planning specialist, trained researcher, author, certified health science educator, community activist, international runway model, actress, radio personality, and motivational speaker.
In 2016, Dr. Anderson was the recipient of the Guy Stevenson Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies, the highest honor the University of Louisville gives to graduating doctoral students. In 2014, she was named Glamour Magazine Phenomenal Woman of the Year for Kentucky.
In 2017, Dr. Anderson was elected President and Executive Director of the Miss Kentucky Scholarship Organization (Miss America system), a role in which she works to empower young women, through pageantry, to develop the leadership skills, confidence, and network to achieve their biggest goals in life.
Ashley resides in the Louisville area with her two sons, Atlas and Ace.
Donors who wish to celebrate Ashley Anderson’s achievements as an honoree are encouraged to make a gift to the Diversity Scholarship Fellowship in Nursing.
Make a Gift