ASHLYE WILKERSON
Ashlye V. Wilkerson is a community leader and advocate who fully embodies the spirit of excellence. As a doctoral candidate at the University of South Carolina and certified educator, Ashlye used her educational background to teach kindergarten and first grade students in a public Title One school. She now uses the knowledge gained from her classroom experience to impact the field of education as an adjunct professor at the University of South Carolina and Columbia College in Columbia, SC. Additionally, Ashlye was voted by the SC General Assembly to serve on the Winthrop University Board of Trustees, the youngest in the state of SC. Ashlye is lauded for her impact on education and literacy and was honored with a South Carolina Senate Resolution as well as a SC House of Representatives Resolution for her work with children’s literature. Ashlye has four published titles: Tori Finds Shapes All Around, Tori Finds Colors All Around, Tori Explores South Carolina, and Tori Visits the Farm: Counting 1-10. Her books we adopted by Richland County School District One, City of Columbia’s Together We Can Read Initiative, and former SC Governor Nikki Hailey for her literacy platform across the state.
48 HBCU Times Spring 2019
Hired as the inaugural professor for the Women in Leadership in South Carolina course at Columbia College, Ashlye developed a course that celebrated the local women from across the state by developing and implementing a ten-week speaker series, “Women Lead SC”. This series focused on topics which included Women Leaders in Faith and Religion, Business and Entrepreneurship, Health and Medicine, Non-Profit, Philanthropy and Community Engagement, Media and Publication, Education and Policy, Arts and Athletics, and Politics. Each week, a panel discussion featuring 3-5 participants for each respective topic, shared their experiences and knowledge of the featured topic. The women were not only proud to be selected for their contributions to their respective field, but they were eager to share their experiences with the attendees. This series was held on campus and was free and open to the general public for two semesters. Her Entrepreneurship experiences began at the tender age of 14. After volunteering in a local child care facility for several summers, Ashlye was enthusiastic about gaining summer employment but was not old enough to work. Determined to begin her first job and serve children who aged out of summer school programs, Ashlye, with the assistance of her parents, held a summer tutorial camp for older elementary age students. Through this summer program that spanned over 3 summers, Ashlye tutored children in all subject areas; planned weekly field trips with adult chaperones; served breakfast, lunch and snack; and administered academic test prep study sessions. The parents of the 15 student participants applauded the program and celebrated the gains their children made during their academic year as a result of the structured summer enrichment programming.
Ashlye continued her passion for entrepreneurship and is now the franchise owner of Wine & Design Columbia sip and paint art studio. The Columbia location is one of eight in the state of South Carolina and among nearly 80 nationwide. All locations are independently owned and operated. Through Wine & Design Columbia, Ashlye has made it her mission to connect her love for people, children, and community through the services in her studio. Focusing primarily on fundraising events for non-profits and charitable organizations through the Paint-It-Forward Division, as well as children camps through the Art Buzz Kids Division, Ashlye is able to operate within her passions of education and volunteerism. There are a lot of fun opportunities to celebrate life milestones such as birthdays, showers, anniversaries, family reunions, and other fun occasions. Wine & Design Columbia was named 2017 and 2018 Best Wine and Paint studio by Columbia Metropolitan Magazine and is currently ranked 4th among all franchise locations for productivity, volume and sales. Ashlye has received distinguished honors such as being named Who’s Who Among Professional Women, The State 20/40, Columbia Business Monthly Best and Brightest 35 Under 35, National Council of Negro Women “Living the Legacy” award, The RAM Foundation Education Trailblazer, Midlands American Business Women’s Association Business Associate of the Year, South Carolina Black Pages 20/40, and Columbia Metropolitan Magazine Top Ten Columbia Young Professionals. She is also a graduate from the following leadership professional development programs: Columbia Chamber Leadership Columbia program, SC Education Policy Fellowship Program, Junior League of Columbia Leadership Program and United Way of the Midlands Blue Print Leadership and Board Development Program. She serves her community on the United Way Education Council, Heyward Career and Technology Board, Power In Changing Diaper Bank Board, and founder of the Magic of Learning Foundation which successfully chartered two undergraduate chapters at Columbia College and The University of South Carolina. Additional chapters are underway. She also volunteers her time at Harvest Hope Food Bank, Transitions Homeless Recovery Center, Girl Scouts of the Midlands, Sister Care, Ronald McDonald House, Palmetto Children’s Hospital and March of Dimes. She is an active member of Rotary International, Junior League of Columbia, Jack & Jill of Columbia, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Ashlye is the proud wife of L. Kobie Wilkerson, mother of four-year-old daughter Alana, twoyear-old daughter Ariah and an eleven year old fur baby.