From the Nominator

Ashley Kern, ’17, earned the first M.S. in data science ever awarded by Michigan Tech. She founded a startup company that specializes in predictive analytics in higher education. The university had previously featured Ashley in stories and marketing materials, all of them focused on her business success. In July 2022, writer Rick White was working on another such story about Ashely when, during their discussion, Ashley confided that she had battled endometriosis for years. Though it affects 10% of women nationwide, endometriosis is widely misunderstood and routinely misdiagnosed. In Ashley’s case, the debilitating pain and chronic fatigue led to a host of secondary issues, including social isolation, depression, infertility, and medical debt. While in college, she had multiple surgeries and took a semester off, nearly dropping out simply because she did not know it was okay to ask for help. Only in her late 20s did she finally find an endometriosis specialist whose treatments helped alleviate the worst of her pain. Ashley embodies tenacity, a core value of both Michigan Tech and the rural Upper Peninsula of Michigan, whose residents pride themselves on the resilience needed to endure long, snowy winters. With this profile, we sought to expand the definition of tenacity to include not just grit and toughness but also self-advocacy and the courage to ask for help. It worked – Ashley received dozens of messages from readers moved by her story and grateful for her bravery to share it.

From the Judges

A great profile telling a story true to so many women's experiences. We appreciated the candor and direct approach the author took.