Ashley Roberts

Accidental President

Ashley Roberts
Associate in Arts
Florida Community College, Class of 2007

Ashley Roberts has always been passionate about politics. “When I was little kid I wanted to be the first woman President,” she says. She recalls arguing with her father on the Clinton campaign as a child. She can freely discuss the 2000 Bush-Gore debate. “My grandmother always said I should run for office.”

She was born in Orange Park, and after a few years in Fort Myers, her family returned to Jacksonville. While her parents divorced shortly after moving back, Ashley’s family is very close. “Both of my parents have been actively involved in my life,” she says. “They’ve always encouraged me to follow my dreams.”

Ashley attended Ed White High School, where she was part of the Model United Nations team, the only one in Northeast Florida. Ashley was a natural. She remembers after one competition, a student on an opposing team coming over to her. “She said, ‘You’re really good — you scared me,’” Ashley says, laughing. Of course, Ashley was representing North Korea at the time, so she took it as a compliment.

As a teenager Ashley switched career plans often. At one point she wanted to be an FBI agent; at another, a graphic designer. In her final year in high school she decided she wanted a political science degree and law degree. “The only part that I never wavered on was the fact I want a doctorate degree.”

She chose Florida Community College because it’s affordable and close to home. “There are a couple of things that makes me like FCCJ,” Ashley says. “Billy Thomas is a really great person, and he makes coming to campus a pleasure.” She says Thomas, the Kent Campus Learning Center manager, has an open-door policy for every student. “You can talk to him about anything; he’s very open-minded,” she says. She also raves about her business law class with Professor Wayne Singletary. “It’s my favorite class that I’ve ever taken at FCCJ.”

It would be easy to think that Ashley had her eye on the SGA president’s position the moment she stepped on campus, but she says it’s practically an accident. “To be honest, the reason I joined is that I was bored. I had a long break between my classes, and I saw a sign for SGA and went to their office and joined.” She immediately became a senator and after taking on extra responsibility, she felt prepared to run again — this time as president.

As SGA president, Ashley keeps up with legislative issues that affect college students and represents the students on the campus Governance Council, alongside campus administrators. She’s also involved in the state-wide SGA. “The SGA connects the college with the students — we address any complaints they have and bring it to the right people to help improve life on campus.”

Ashley plans to graduate next summer with her associate in arts degree and transfer to the University of Florida, eventually earning her law degree there. While her major is now political science, she’s thinking about changing it, perhaps to philosophy or the humanities, something that will “expand my critical thinking,” she says. Her ultimate goal is to work as a corporate lawyer in New York City. Sounds like the perfect pre-political career; maybe Ashley’s grandmother was right.

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