Ashley Leach

Ashley Leach (she/her) is a PhD student in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Education Technology at the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education. She is currently a research assistant at the Center for Empowered Learning and Development with Technology (CELDtech) and is advised by Dr. Brendesha Tynes.

Ashley holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Political Science with a minor in Education Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). After her undergraduate education she continued her academic pursuits at UCLA, where she earned a master’s degree (Ed.M.) in Education with a specialization in Elementary Teacher Education. 

Currently her research interests center the self-concept and psychological well-being of Black students. As she continues to explore how emotions and game-based designs contribute to affirming learning environments, she seeks to develop interventions that promote self-efficacy, belonging, and academic achievement.