Ashley was born and raised in McMinnville, OR and has family in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as well as Oregon. She is a lifelong Girl Scout who enjoys hiking and being in the outdoors. Ashley competed in golf as a student athlete throughout high school and college.

Ashley became interested in Dinosaurs while attending preschool at the Linfield PRE-K program, and her fascination has grown ever since then. As a student at McMinnville High School she was instrumental in developing and expanding the Paleontology Club, and later served as its President.

While in middle school, Ashley attended a presentation regarding the colors of dinosaurs and whether or not they had feathers, featuring Dr. Leonard Finkelman. After the presentation Dr. Finkelman spoke with Ashley and it was the beginning of a mentorship that continues to this day. Ashley has assissted Dr. Finkelman in his research, in which she received published credit. Ashley continued to work with Dr. Finkelman as an undergraduate student at Linfield University.

Ashley continues to pursue fossils in many locations, such as along the Oregon Shore, in the Yamhill River, and most recently in the Bighorn Basin.