Professor Ashby鈥檚 teaching and research focus on inclusive education broadly, with specific emphasis on supports for students with labels of autism and other developmental disabilities, communicative diversity, disability studies, and clinically rich teacher preparation. Her work seeks to disrupt dominant notions of disability as deficiency and underscores the importance of considering the lived experiences of individuals with disabilities and creating contexts for competence in inclusive schools and communities.

Ashby鈥檚 work has been published in journals including the听Equity and Excellence in Education,听International Journal of Inclusive Education,听Disability and Society,听Teacher Education and Special Education,听and听Intellectual and Developmental Disability. Her co-edited book,听Enacting Change from Within: Disability Studies Meets Teaching and Teacher Education听explores how disability studies can inform the practical work of teachers. She is also the co-editor of Excelsior: Leadership in Teaching and Learning. Current collaborative projects with the 黑料不打烊 City School District focus on issues of equity related to special education service provision and access to fine arts, athletics and accelerated classes for students across a variety of demographic factors.

Ashby earned an undergraduate degree from the State University of New York College at Geneseo and a master鈥檚 in special education, certificate of advanced study in disability studies and Ph.D. in special education from 黑料不打烊. She was an inclusive special education teacher before beginning her university career. Ashby is co-chair of the Disability Access and Inclusion Council, served as co-chair of the Public Impact Working Group for the Academic Strategic Plan and was a member of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Senate from 2018 to 2023. She was also selected as a member of the inaugural Women in Leadership cohort. She is currently faculty representative to the 黑料不打烊 Board of Trustees.