Speaker encourages students to ‘ARISE’ at annual GSW Martin L. King Convocation

Published 6:00 pm Thursday, February 4, 2016

AMERICUS  — Georgia Southwestern State University hosted its annual Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation on Jan. 20 in its Student Success Center. The keynote speaker was Kecia M. Ashley, Ed.D.
Ashley’s talk focused on five key points which form the acronym A.R.I.S.E.: 1. Attitude, 2. Resilience, 3. Integrity, 4. Success, and 5. Evolve. Drawing inspiring from the late Martin Luther King, Jr., Ashley implored students to “Accept their call [in life], no matter how challenging.”
Ashley has been in education for over 20 years, serving as a teacher and administrator in Alabama and Mississippi. Additionally, she serves as a consultant and as an adjunct professor at the University of Alabama Birmingham (UAB).
Ashley received bachelor’s degree in English education from Alcorn State University in Lorman, Miss.; a master’s in English education and an education specialist in educational leadership from UAB; and a doctorate educational leadership from Samford University in Birmingham.