KENNESAW, Ga. | Jun 11, 2026

For high school chemistry teacher Ashley Thomas, coming back to Kennesaw State University to earn a third post-graduate degree was an easy decision.

A science teacher in DeKalb County Schools, Thomas is now a ‘Triple Owl,’ having previously earned a master's and education specialist degree in instructional technology, and now a Doctor of Education in Instructional Technology. So for her, KSU – in particular, the Clarice C. and Leland H. Bagwell College of Education – felt like home.

"I knew the professors, I knew the community,” Thomas said. "KSU has a great reputation for instructional technology, and it just felt more comfortable to be with the people, you know, would be supportive."

That support proved to be crucial as during her doctoral journey, Thomas faced a series of challenges including losing her only sibling, her older sister Alexis, to cancer. She also navigated caregiving for her father, who she later lost to dementia just one week before she defended her dissertation proposal. And at the same time, she was managing her own diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, teaching full time and helping to raise Alexis’ young sons. 

Navigating these challenges while working on her dissertation tested her grit and brought moments when she felt like giving up.

 “I said, I quit. I don't want to do this anymore. I'm done,” she recalled. “My brother-in-law told me, ‘Your sister would want you to keep going.’ And then I did not move from the chair. I kept writing.”

Throughout it all, Thomas continued to show up for herself, excelling both in the classrooms where she sat as a doctoral student, as well as in the ones she taught. At KSU, she maintained a 4.0 GPA, earned first runner-up honors in the Bagwell College of Education’s Student Scholars Expo in both 2024 and 2025 and was nominated for the Graduate College’s Dissertation Completion stipend. She also presented her dissertation research on how Black female science teachers use technology for culturally responsive teaching at the American Educational Research Association’s annual conference, one of the nation’s leading education research gatherings.

At Stephenson High School where she teaches chemistry, she was named Teacher of the Year and went on to become a finalist for DeKalb County School District Teacher of the Year during the 2023-24 academic year.

A science teacher for nearly two decades, she says the classroom is where she feels most alive.

“The most fulfilling thing about teaching is when my students get it,” she said. “When they’re excited and engaged. I love it.”

Thomas credits her faith, her mother, her friends, church community, and her colleagues for keeping her grounded.

“My mother was really my rock,” she said. “And I had people around me who reminded me to keep going.”

One of those cheerleaders was her dissertation chair, Tiffany Roman, associate professor of instructional technology.

“Ashley the best of the best of KSU,” Roman said. “Not only is she a role model to her K-12 students, she is a role model for the entire graduate program in the School of Instructional Technology and Innovation. As a scholar, she went above and beyond in her dissertation research, using a mixed methods approach that will set I’m excited for what the future holds for her, as she accomplishes everything she sets out to do with no matter the obstacles she encounters.” 

For now, Thomas says she will be continuing her role as high school science teacher, while exploring coaching opportunities in instructional technology or a leadership role. She also plans on writing a book to help teachers integrate technology into their instruction.

And as she makes plans to officially mark her graduation by walking at KSU's Fall ‘26 commencement, she hopes her story encourages someone else not to give up on themselves.

“If I got through it, even with all of this, then they can still make it, too,” Thomas said. “During her illness my sister always told me to live every day like it was my last day. However, my perspective shifted to also living with expectation that tomorrow will come, so we have to plan for it.”

– Story by Christin Senior

Photos by Matt Yung

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 51,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university's vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.