Distinguished Alumni Award Winner for the 
College of Science and Mathematics

Ashley Head (’05) 

Ashley Head, Ph.D., graduated from JMU in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry. In 2011, she earned a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Arizona. Head currently resides in Long Island, New York and works as a staff scientist in Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Head first fell in love with chemistry research at JMU, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Sigma professional chemistry fraternity and worked in a research lab with her undergraduate advisers, Donna Amenta and John Gilje, Ph.D.s. This experience allowed her to get a head start on a career in research.

“In graduate school, I was much better prepared in my chemistry foundation and research,” Head said. “I was way ahead of my peers I felt like because of JMU.”

After first being introduced to chemistry research by her advisers, Head became even more passionate about the field after listening to alumni discuss their experiences.

“There were always alumni coming to our department and giving us talks and advice,” Head said. “It was really because of those interactions that I wanted to pursue my current career. JMU fosters a strong community around the nation and they like to come back and help JMU students when they can.”

Her favorite memories at JMU center around the close relationships she formed with fellow chemistry students.
“We were just a really close-knit group,” Head said. “Studied together, had fun together. It was just a strong camaraderie.”
Since graduating, Head has held several research positions, including postdoctoral researcher in Lund, Sweden. During her time there, she explored mechanisms of growing metal oxides.

When she’s not in the lab, Head is in elementary schools giving science lessons. Passionate about advancing women in science, she also serves on career panels and mentors younger students.

“It’s a really big problem in our country that there aren’t as many women in science as there should be,” Head said.
In addition to her roles as advocate and researcher, Head is also the mother of a 2-year-old.

“Women in science are often afraid of having kids because it’s a demanding career,” Head said. “I want to inspire other people and let them know that it’s possible to have a high-profile science career and have children.”

Past Award Recipients

2016: Timothy Person (’93) 
2017: Pamela Kempton (’77)
2018: Ashley Head (’05) 
2019: Stanley Jones (’54)
2020: Emily Branscome (’78)