Ashley Katz

Adjunct Faculty
Director of the University Union
CSP Class of '06

M.S. Western Illinois University

The CSP program at Western molded the foundation of the professional I am today. I bonded closely with classmates who are now colleagues at institutions around the country, met mentors I am still close with, and was provided a strong theory-to-practice education that prepared me for my career after graduation. The level of care and support that was displayed to me and continues to be shown to current graduate students is unparalleled. I am thankful every day for my experience.

Ashley Katz currently serves as the Director of the University Union at Western Illinois University. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with a minor in Psychology and a Master of Science in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University. In her role as the Director of the University Union at WIU, Ashley oversees Union Operations and WESTEC, Scheduling & Event Services, Union Service Center & Hotel, WIU Bookstore, as well as camps, conference and outreach programming.

Following graduating from the CSP graduate program, Ashley served as an Operations Manager at the Dobbs University Center at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. After that, she was an Event Planner and Conference Coordinator at the Student Center at the University of California, Irvine.

When the opportunity arose to return back to her home at Western Illinois University, Ashley took advantage and began working in the University Union and progressed through several roles including Facilities Manager and Assistant Director before eventually being named the Director of the University Union.

Ashley is a strong advocate for student affairs professionals to serve as advisors for student organizations as well as mentors for undergraduate and graduate students. She has led by example in her practice by serving as the College Chapter Director for Delta Zeta and as an advisor for RockyTHON (WIU Dance Marathon), in addition as a site supervisor for CSP graduate assistantship and practicum experiences.

In the community, Ashley is on the Macomb City Council to exercise her voice and passion for local government. As an adjunct professor in the College Student Personnel program at Western Illinois University, Ashley currently teaches Law Issues in Student Affairs. In this course, Ashley covers case law as it relates to higher education. However, she does this in creative ways that display the application of the law to the work students are currently doing in their graduate assistantships and how it will be prevalent to their work as a professional in future roles.

As a proud alum of the College Student Personnel program and professional staff member at WIU, Ashley has worked alongside a multitude of graduate students and witnessed them flourish in the theory to practice approach and ultimately graduate to become outstanding student affairs professionals.