So you're interested in me? Let me tell you about myself.
My name is Ashley Milan Brooks and I am a multifaceted creative from Dayton, Ohio. Utilizing my assets, interests, and knack for spatial organization, over time I began developing a unique sense of self-expression and realizing my personal mission: to enhance both the lives of people and the environment through intentional design and planning of habitable and sustainable spaces.
To begin making these dreams a reality, I attended Kent State University in Kent, Ohio to study Interior Design + learn abstract design concepts that would introduce to me new ways of thinking about space as a fluid form of communication. To enhance my knowledge with a more technical and political perspective, I pursued a BA in Urban Affairs, concentrating on Urban Planning, at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. In this program, I learned to analyze cities in their entirety and acknowledge the factors that have influenced what they are globally, revealing many current + pressing issues varying from sustainability to ethical decision making.
Constantly striving to change the world and myself for the better, I pursued an MFA in Design Research and Development at The Ohio State University, graduating summa cum laude with a minor in Public Policy and Management in August 2023. I am proud + thankful to have been a Graduate Teaching Associate, awarded a full scholarship for this program. During this program, I gained more insightful knowledge about co-designing with community stakeholders, working in transdisciplinary teams, and implementing ethical social design that considers and represents any and all kinds of people and lived experiences, with a priority given to women of color and marginalized communities.
My thesis project turned book, An Intersectional Lens, can be purchased TODAY! You can find out more about my research and how to purchase by going to the BOOK page on this site.
As important as all of that is, outside of education there is SO much more to me!
Since early childhood, I have been heavily involved in church relations and various other outreach programs throughout the community. Attending Stivers School for the Arts as a Theatre major during middle and high school, I developed a love for connecting with people + evoking deep emotion in a safe, intentional manner.
As a devoted citizen and volunteer for numerous community organizations, I realize how important it is to invest time + energy into future generations while also recognizing the potential + beauty that lies in the present. These experiences not only help me to understand + empathize with the world around me, but also encouraged me to be an active part of positive change.
My leadership and problem-solving capabilities have also become evident throughout my professional experiences and hobbies. I have excelled in content curation, implementing research processes, and clerical and retail environments. On top of that, I have contributed to various event planning and programming with optimism and efficiency.
Unoccupied by those tasks, I can be found recording and editing my original podcast entitled 'Honestly, I'm irritated.', singing karaoke, listening to a variety of tunes, making memories with loved ones, or contemplating the deeper meanings of life.
All in all, I am a dedicated, passionate, and committed woman aiming to change the world.
Join me on my journey to greatness!
I'd love to live + learn with you.
amb.
