“Heart and soul” from professors paved a path for journalist Ashley Davis
Ashley Davis was always talented. She just needed a supportive and challenging environment to pull all her skills and creativity together so she could emerge as a generational talent.
“I will never forget the people, the experiences, and the city of Dearborn for molding me and preparing me for the next chapter in my personal journey,” said Davis, of Westland.
A first-generation and non-traditional college student
An only child, Davis graduated from Loy Norrix High School in her native Kalamazoo.
In May, she will earn her associate degree in liberal arts from HFC with concentrations in journalism and sociology. This fall, she will transfer to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, where she will major in English and minor in community action and social change.
“As a first-generation, non-traditional college student, I didn't have much knowledge about what my pathway to a bachelor’s degree would look like, or how I would go about making it happen, so that was important to me. I also loved that the College offered a journalism pathway under the liberal arts associate degree. That's rare at the community college level," said Davis.
Davis always enjoyed writing poetry and short stories. In high school, her English teacher Tisha Pankop told her that she should consider journalism, due to her extraordinary writing talent. Pankop asked Davis to be the sports editor of Knight Life, Loy Norrix’s student-run newspaper.
“She was the catalyst in educating me on ethics, writing style, and understanding my rights as a journalist,” recalled Davis. “She laid the foundation for everything I know when it comes to journalism.”
The Mirror News thrived under her leadership
Davis is a member of the Henry Ford II Honors Program, the HFC chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) (Alpha Xi Mu), and the Dr. Henry J. Bowers Focus Group. For the 2024-25 academic year, she has served as the editor-in-chief of The Mirror News, HFC’s student-run newspaper.
Under her leadership, The Mirror News staff produced innovative ideas, quality stories, and strong investigative articles while exercising creative freedom. Davis researched and wrote extensive articles about the 2024 Presidential election and how the mental health of the student body has been impacted by the violence in Lebanon and Gaza.
“I felt a social responsibility to make sure students were informed and felt heard. I am also proud of the article I wrote about the Jim Dandy Ski Club in Detroit, the first Black ski club in the United States,” she said. “I am especially proud of helping oversee the partnership between the newspaper staff and graphic design students. It really elevated our layout design and earned us awards in front page design, overall design, and general excellence at the Michigan Community College Press Association.”
Davis has won several awards from the MCCPA, including two first place awards in 2025, and from the Michigan Press Association. In May, she will receive a scholarship from the 2025 MPA Annual Convention called "Journalism... democracy in action."
"I am so grateful," she said.
HFC English instructor and The Mirror News faculty advisor Dr. Peter Kim has had many opportunities to work with Davis.
“I have had the thrill and honor of having Ashley as a student in a number of classes and to serve as her advisor for the student newspaper,” he said. “Ashley’s reporting and writing have really developed in the past year. She really sets the bar high, making sure to check her sources, and verifying facts. Representing the voices of the HFC students is a job Ashley has taken very seriously, especially during these trying times. The newspaper has improved significantly since she joined, and the staff whom she’s helped mentor will continue that excellence, which is a testament to the welcoming and supportive environment in the newsroom that she created. We will all miss her. I wish her much success.”
Dedicated HFC faculty members gave her self-assurance to pursue U-M
HFC has provided Davis with the confidence to continue her education at U-M.
“I was fortunate to have professors who put their heart and soul into their jobs. Nobody was apprehensive about providing extra help and support when it was needed. It was refreshing because in my previous community college experiences, I felt like a ghost haunting the halls because nobody seemed to care if I was there.”
The following HFC faculty members have had a notable influence on Davis:
- Kim: “I always say Dr. Kim was my formal introduction to HFC in my first semester. He helped me immerse myself in the campus community by introducing me to the Honors Program and hiring me for the newspaper. He was pivotal in connecting me with many meaningful opportunities on and off campus. There's no way I'd be where I am without him.”
- Focus Group advisors Dr. Kalvin DaRonne Harvell, Dr. Courtney Matthews, and Chardin Claybourne: “We call them ‘The Big 3.’ They're more like family to me as they've truly created a home for me at HFC. Their leadership, guidance, and support helped me reimagine my future and build my confidence on my academic journey.”
- HFC English instructor Angela Hathikhanavala: “She really helped me push myself in creative writing and producing strong research papers.”
- HFC Media Communication Arts Chairperson Susan McGraw: “She was also a major catalyst in helping me recognize my talents in other forms of media like film writing and advertising.”
"Ashley is a once-in-a-generation kind of student — the kind who reminds you why you teach in the first place," said McGraw. "She brought vision, voice, and heart to every project we worked on, whether it was a screenplay scene, a public service article, or a conversation after class. HFC may have helped shape Ashley, but she has equally helped shape HFC. I have no doubt she will continue to use her gifts to inspire change, amplify unheard voices, and lead with empathy."
“A great place to figure out what you want to pursue”
The Honors Program offered Davis many opportunities to conduct and present research alongside faculty members on subjects ranging from racial bias in the media and safe spaces for marginalized groups. Davis has participated on panels alongside Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib and at the Mid-East Honors Association Conference. She also attended the “Pulitzer on the Road” event in Detroit, where she spoke with Pulitzer-winning and Pulitzer-nominated journalists.
“The best part of HFC is the diverse range of support services,” said Davis. “There is a department for anything you need during your time here. Some useful resources for me were the scholarships offered through the Honors Program, time management courses at the Eshleman Library, and the Student Emergency Aid Fund for car repairs. These are the lifelines that kept me in school, so I could continue working toward my degree.”
She continued: “HFC is a great place to figure out what you want to pursue and start building a pathway toward whatever your goals are. I know students who have gone on to pursue costume design, dentistry, and even writing children's books. The College offers so much versatility and flexibility in finding your way through education.”
As Davis' Honors Program mentor and Focus Group advisor, Matthews has witnessed her continued growth as a scholar and role model to other students.
"She is such a dedicated scholar that she completed two directed studies when only one is required in the Honors Program," said Matthews. "I could not be more proud to watch her walk across the stage at Commencement next month and continue her academic journey in Ann Arbor."
Davis would like to establish a national program to support Black community college students interested in pursuing journalism and careers in the mass media, partnering with universities, media outlets, and community journalism initiatives across the U.S. to increase access to resources. Statistically, Black journalists are underrepresented in newsrooms and journalistic leadership positions. This is something she wants to change.
“I would like the work throughout my life to lay the foundation for building such a network. I'm especially inspired by the Detroit Writing Room Summer Journalism Camp and media outlets like The Outlier,” she said. “My hope is to maintain my connection to the College in a mentorship capacity through the Honors Program, The Mirror News, and the Focus Group.”