10 Questions with Ashley DeGooyer

10 QUESTIONS WITH

ASHLEY DeGOOYER

Executive director of the American Cancer Society, South Region

1. How did you become involved with the American Cancer Society (ACS)?

My education revolved around counseling psychology with an emphasis in social work. As far back as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to helping others who are faced with challenges. When I started with ACS as a patient navigator in 2009, it was a great fit. My work gave me the opportunity to serve patients and their families, an experience that changed the way I look at life. In some capacity, most lives have been touched by cancer. Oddly, when I started with ACS I didn’t have a personal connection to the disease. Now, nearly 10 years later, my life has been personally impacted by cancer time and again: aunts, best friends’ family members, childhood friends. People seek me out for support and I’m able to comfort loved ones diagnosed with this disease in ways I couldn’t imagine if my path had been different.