Ashley B. Clayton

Ashley B. Clayton serves as the Jo Ellen Levy Yates Endowed Associate Professor in the Higher Education Administration program within Louisiana State University's College of Human Sciences & Education. Her research focuses on college student access and success, higher education leadership, and finance, with publications in premier journals including the Journal of Higher Education, Review of Higher Education, and Journal of Student Financial Aid.

Her educational background spans multiple disciplines: a BS in Interior Design from Virginia Tech (2005), MS in Higher Education Administration from Florida International University (2009), MBA in Business Administration from LSU (2023), PhD in Educational Research and Policy Analysis from North Carolina State University (2016), and postdoctoral training at the McBee Institute of Higher Education, University of Georgia (2016-2017).

Clayton's research examines structural barriers in higher education through quantitative analysis of college advising effectiveness, financial aid processes, and institutional policies. She investigates critical transitions including summer melt and delayed enrollment, with particular attention to first-generation students, rural populations, and Black student experiences at predominantly white institutions. Her work bridges theory and practice through collaborations with campus partners, community organizations, and K-12 systems to develop evidence-based interventions.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on equity-driven solutions: 68% address underrepresented student populations while 53% employ causal inference methods to evaluate policy impacts. Her scholarship increasingly emphasizes intersectional approaches, connecting financial aid systems with college choice behaviors and examining how high school counseling practices shape postsecondary outcomes.

Her scientific recognition includes:

• Mentorship Award (2024) from LSU's College of Human Sciences & Education
• ASHE/Ascendium Fellow & Research Team Member (2022)
• Rising Faculty Research Award (2022) from LSU Alumni Association
• Non-Tenured Faculty Award (2020) from Phi Kappa Phi

Clayton secured $49,983 from The Spencer Foundation (2020-2022) as Co-PI for 'Institutional Agents: Exploring High School Counselors’ College Knowledge in California Title I Schools,' demonstrating her commitment to improving college access infrastructure. She actively mentors undergraduate researchers and collaborates with Louisiana community colleges on transfer initiatives while serving on ASHE and AERA conference committees.

As an active scholar-practitioner, Clayton partners with campus units including the Office of Academic Affairs and Financial Aid Office to implement data-informed practices. Her eight years in Louisiana have fostered cross-institutional collaborations addressing admissions equity, assessment frameworks, and leadership development across the state's higher education landscape.