Recipient of the 2021-2022 Dartmouth Young Alumni Award
Growing up on Long Island, you were familiar with the allure of Dartmouth from a young age. Your father, Eric Donnenfeld ’77, MED’80, met your mother, Marleen Donnenfeld, while he was a fourth-year med student and she was a first-year resident. That same year, your uncle Alan MED’81 and his future wife Karen Straus ’78 MED’82 were also medical students, while your uncle Neil ’83 was a freshman at the College. Needless to say, Dartmouth memories were a frequent topic of conversation in your family home. Your parents even sent you to a high school cross-country camp at the College, though you weren’t a long-distance runner. Fortunately for us, it worked.
On campus, you majored in psychology and were a Presidential Scholar. A true student of the liberal arts, you participated in research that involved both Dartmouth and Tuck faculty and resulted in several publications and awards. You also especially valued serving as TA for “History of the Holocaust” and “Educational Issues in Contemporary Society.”
Outside of the classroom, you took advantage of every opportunity the College had to offer. You studied abroad in Lyon, France, were the captain of the Club Tennis team, played intramural softball and hockey, and became a certified ski instructor. You were a member of Kappa Delta Epsilon and you shared your infectious love of Dartmouth with countless students as a campus tour guide.
Following graduation, you worked for UBS and Novartis and received an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. Still, no institution has benefited from your considerable talent for inspiring and organizing others as much as Dartmouth. You’ve volunteered for the College without pause since leaving Hanover, first serving as a Dartmouth College Fund volunteer and Admissions Ambassador and quickly moving into leadership roles, including President and Head Agent for the great Class of 2005. You were awarded Class President of the Year in 2016 and later served as President of the Class Officers Association Executive Board. You are especially proud that in 2007 your class was the youngest ever to create an endowed scholarship. As the Chair of the ’05 Compassion Committee and the Vox Clamantis Intergenerational Fund for Student Mental Health & Well-being, you continue to share your empathy and kindness both within and beyond your class.
In recent years, your volunteer work has expanded significantly. You’re a member of the Centennial Circle, which has provided invaluable opportunities to build friendships with inspiring Dartmouth women across several generations. You also help bring your peers into the fold in your Young Alumni Stewardship role. You are particularly inspired by your work with the Dartmouth Hall Campaign, Co-Education committee and Women of Dartmouth. And in your role as Chair of the Young Alumni Campaign Advisory Committee and a member of the Campaign Executive Committee, you’ve played an instrumental role in ensuring that future generations will enjoy the Dartmouth experience that has shaped your entire family.
That family has grown, too! With four daughters under 10, you and your husband Chris certainly have your hands full—but he never fails to support your work on behalf of the College. Though he is a loyal Yale alum, he’s already acknowledged that you’ve won your children’s hearts over to Dartmouth. You recently moved to Vero Beach, Florida, where the Dartmouth community once again welcomed you. You quickly became involved with the Dartmouth Club of Vero Beach and as the District Enrollment Director of your Florida region.
Ashley, we salute your tremendous service to your Class and the College at large. In recognition, we are proud to present you with the Young Alumni Distinguished Service Award.