Ashley Robertson Preston

Dr. Ashley Robertson Preston is a tenured Associate Professor of History at Howard University's College of Arts & Sciences, where she also serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies and a Faculty Fellow in the COAS Honors Program. Her work centers on Black women's activism, particularly the legacy of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune during the early 20th century.

• Education: PhD in History from Howard University, MA from Temple University, BS from Bowie State University

Her research spans Pan-Africanism, social justice movements, and public history, with a focus on racial equality struggles in the U.S. and global contexts. Publications include Mary McLeod Bethune in Florida and the shortlisted 2024 MAAH Stone Book Award publication Mary McLeod Bethune: The Pan-Africanist.

Recent Google Scholar articles (2019-2025) reveal consistent exploration of Black women's leadership in transnational activism, educational advocacy, and historical commemoration, with sub-fields including Pan-African networks, anti-colonial resistance, and intersectional policy work.

• Scientific Awards: Shortlisted for the 2024 MAAH Stone Book Award

Dr. Preston contributes to academic discourse through publications in Phylon, Journal of Black Studies, and The Journal of Negro Education. Her prior roles include director of the Mary McLeod Bethune Foundation-National Historic Landmark and archives technician for the National Archives for Black Women's History.