Ashley McGarrah

Fulbright University of Bristol Summer Institute

Ashley McGarrah grew up in the small town of Hermann, Missouri. She attends the University of Missouri as a sophomore, where she majors in social work and minors in sociology. Ashley plans to earn her master's degree in social work, where she will focus on policy work, and hopes to advocate for legislation surrounding healthcare access. 

Ashley is part of the Honors College, serves as a College of Health Science Scholar, and works for the Office of Undergraduate Research. She currently researches criminogenic risk individuals with traumatic histories, including adults with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system. 

Ashley is excited to participate in the University of Bristol Summer Institute Program and immerse herself in Bristol’s profound history in social justice initiatives. She is excited to engage in hands-on, interactive opportunities, learn directly from others, and gain valuable skills to apply later in her career. Ashley is also passionate about social work initiatives in the UK in comparison to the United States. With this knowledge, she hopes to improve social justice efforts at the local level. 

As a lover of all things food, Ashley is especially eager to explore Bristol’s food scene while understanding its historical roots and maritime influence.