{"id":110215,"date":"2026-05-04T11:44:37","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T15:44:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/?p=110215"},"modified":"2026-05-06T12:14:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T16:14:45","slug":"umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/","title":{"rendered":"UMW Student-Leader Helps Others Feel Welcome at Mary Washington"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><section class=\"wp-block-umw-hero alignfull umw-custom-block umw-hero umw-hero--dark-text umw-hero--media-float-right umw-hero--white umw-hero--with-no-media umw-hero--with-no-content\"><div class=\"umw-hero__inner\"><div class=\"umw-hero__media\"><\/div><div class=\"umw-hero__title\"><div class=\"container\"><div class=\"umw-hero__title__wrapper\"><h1 class=\"umw-hero__title__header\">News<\/h1><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><h2 class=\"alignwide wp-block-post-title\">UMW Student-Leader Helps Others Feel Welcome at Mary Washington<\/h2><div class=\"wp-block-group umw-news-author-credit is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-ad2f72ca wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-05-04T11:44:37-04:00\">May 4, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p>by<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\">Sarah Moon<\/div><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-medium\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-attachment-id=\"110216\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/1-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/1.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1280,854\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"0\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"0\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/1-300x200.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/1-1024x683.jpeg\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/1-300x200.jpeg\" alt=\"Photo of Ashley Lam in a lab coat in a UMW science classroom\" class=\"wp-image-110216\" srcset=\"\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/1-300x200.jpeg 300w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/1-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/1-768x512.jpeg 768w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/1.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">University of Mary Washington senior Ashley Lam,&nbsp;a biomedical sciences major, has remained devoted to student leadership while discovering a passion for organic chemistry. Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><p>At the University of Mary Washington, senior Ashley Lam has built a reputation for making campus life more welcoming for others by helping classmates and prospective students feel confident and connected from day one.&nbsp;<\/p><p>A few days each week, the biomedical&#8239;sciences major departs the lab and can be found sporting a blue polo, welcoming future Eagles to campus. She serves as a&#8239;Washington Guide&#8239;for UMW Admissions&#8239; &ndash;&#8239; a&#8239;group of tour-givers who&#8239;introduce prospective students to college life. But&#8239;the role&#8239;extends&#8239;beyond&#8239;showing families around the grounds. Many Washington Guides have been trained by Lam herself.<\/p><p>That commitment&#8239;centers&#8239;around&#8239;the student community&#8239;and reaches all corners of campus.&#8239;In her role as&#8239;director of&#8239;training, she helps prepare current students to effectively engage with prospective families and make them feel at ease the moment they&#8239;arrive at Mary Washington.&#8239;Now, as she prepares for graduation in May and a future career in healthcare, she hopes her&#8239;guidance&#8239;will continue to inspire the next wave of UMW student leaders.&#8239;&#8239;<\/p><p>&ldquo;Being part of the training process is a rewarding experience,&rdquo; said Lam, a native of McLean, Virginia.&#8239;&ldquo;Getting to meet future students and help them through the anxieties of starting college life is also very special&#8239;&ndash;&#8239;you&rsquo;re with them at the very beginning of their college experience.&rdquo;&#8239;<\/p><p>Lam demonstrates leadership elsewhere&#8239; too. As&#8239;president of the Campus Programming Board (CPB),&#8239;she&#8239;helps&#8239;organize some of UMW&rsquo;s most popular events,&#8239;like Bash on Ball &ndash; where students celebrate the last day of classes with food trucks and tie-dye &ndash; and the annual Block Party concert, which draws crowds of Eagles ready to unwind and enjoy live music together.&#8239;She&rsquo;s&#8239;also&#8239;part of the reason students&#8239;are&#8239;shouting bingo puns on Tuesday nights&#8239;and&#8239;singing their hearts out&#8239;on&#8239;Wednesdays&#8239;at&#8239;karaoke.&#8239;<\/p><p>&ldquo;She has been essential to the planning of campuswide&#8239;activities,&rdquo; said Director of Student Activities and Engagement Shannon Finney. &ldquo;She&rsquo;s&#8239;always the first person to help move chairs, call bingo or clean up after a late event.&rdquo;&#8239;<\/p><section class=\"image-gallery layout__block\">\n\t<div class=\"image-gallery__inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__main\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__main__track\" js-slideshow-track=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__slide\" js-slide=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1131\" height=\"772\" data-attachment-id=\"110227\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/img_7652\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/IMG_7652-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1707,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"0\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"0\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Ashley Lam can be found sporting a blue polo, welcoming future Eagles to campus as a Washington Guide&#8239;for UMW Admissions&#8239;&ndash;&#8239;a&#8239;group of tour-givers who&#8239;introduce prospective students to college life. &lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/IMG_7652-200x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/IMG_7652-683x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"110227\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/IMG_7652-1131x772.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Ashley Lam in a blue polo inside Lee hall at UMW\" class=\"wp-image-110227\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__slide\" js-slide=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1131\" height=\"772\" data-attachment-id=\"110222\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/attachment\/4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/4-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1707,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"3.5\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"Canon EOS Rebel T7\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"1725002355\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"23\",\"iso\":\"1000\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0.003125\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"1\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lam participates in First Friday, an event she helped plan through her work supporting campus life.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/4-200x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/4-683x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"110222\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/4-1131x772.jpg\" alt=\"Ashley Lam holds a snow cone at a student event outdoors on campus\" class=\"wp-image-110222\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__slide\" js-slide=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" data-attachment-id=\"110217\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/attachment\/6\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"768,512\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"1744898765\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"1\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lam (left) has done technological-based research during her time at UMW, and plans to work in healthcare and study for the MCAT after graduation. Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6.jpg\" data-id=\"110217\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6.jpg\" alt=\"Ashley Lam in the lab doing an experiment with a fellow student in a UMW classroom \" class=\"wp-image-110217\" srcset=\"\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6.jpg 768w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__slide\" js-slide=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1131\" height=\"772\" data-attachment-id=\"110219\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/i1035-fw1-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/7-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1920\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"4.8\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"i1035\",\"caption\":\"i1035 FW1.1\",\"created_timestamp\":\"1774686429\",\"copyright\":\"Copyright 2002\",\"focal_length\":\"5.67\",\"iso\":\"80\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0.00153846153846\",\"title\":\"i1035 FW1.1\",\"orientation\":\"1\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lam (left) pictured with friend Haley Miller (right) at the 2026 CPB Block Party, one of the many events she helped organize as President of the CPB. &lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/7-300x225.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/7-1024x768.jpg\" data-id=\"110219\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/7-1131x772.jpg\" alt=\"Ashley Lam poses with friend outdoors at 2026 CPB Block Party, one of the many events she helped organize\" class=\"wp-image-110219\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__slide\" js-slide=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1131\" height=\"772\" data-attachment-id=\"110221\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/2-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/2-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"4\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"Canon EOS Rebel T7\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"1724998449\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"28\",\"iso\":\"1000\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0.025\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"1\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;As President of the Campus Programming Board and Vice President of her class, Lam volunteers at campus events such as First Friday, where CPB hosts indoor and outdoor activities on the first Friday of the semester.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/2-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/2-1024x683.jpg\" data-id=\"110221\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/2-1131x772.jpg\" alt=\"Ashley Lam at a CPB event\" class=\"wp-image-110221\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__slide\" js-slide=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1131\" height=\"772\" data-attachment-id=\"110220\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/5-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/5-scaled.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1920,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"1.5\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"iPhone 14 Plus\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"1739722684\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"5.7\",\"iso\":\"100\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0.0185185185185\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"1\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lam attended the National Association for Campus Activities conference, networking with student leaders and exploring new ideas and vendors for campus events at UMW.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/5-225x300.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/5-768x1024.jpeg\" data-id=\"110220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/5-1131x772.jpeg\" alt=\"Ashley Lam sits in a swing at the National Association for Campus Activities conference\" class=\"wp-image-110220\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__slide\" js-slide=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-main\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1131\" height=\"772\" data-attachment-id=\"110218\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/3-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/3.png\" data-orig-size=\"1927,1101\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"0\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"0\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lam (center) works with fellow Campus Programming Board members to host Mary Rocktoberfest, an outdoor Family Weekend concert featuring food and music.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/3-300x171.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/3-1024x585.png\" data-id=\"110218\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/3-1131x772.png\" alt=\"Ashley Lam gets food outdoors at a student event\" class=\"wp-image-110218\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"image-gallery__nav image-gallery__nav--previous\" aria-label=\"Previous\" js-prev>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\r\n<path d=\"M18.5 12H6M6 12L12 6M6 12L12 18\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\r\n<\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"image-gallery__nav image-gallery__nav--next\" aria-label=\"Next\" js-next>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" stroke-width=\"1.5\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\r\n<path d=\"M6 12H18.5M18.5 12L12.5 6M18.5 12L12.5 18\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path>\r\n<\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnails\" js-thumbnails-container=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnails__track\" js-thumbnail-track>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail\" aria-label=\"Slide 0 thumbnail\" js-thumbnail>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-thumb\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"224\" height=\"116\" data-attachment-id=\"110227\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/img_7652\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/IMG_7652-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1707,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"0\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"0\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Ashley Lam can be found sporting a blue polo, welcoming future Eagles to campus as a Washington Guide&#8239;for UMW Admissions&#8239;&ndash;&#8239;a&#8239;group of tour-givers who&#8239;introduce prospective students to college life. &lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/IMG_7652-200x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/IMG_7652-683x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"110227\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/IMG_7652-224x116.jpg\" alt=\"Photo of Ashley Lam in a blue polo inside Lee hall at UMW\" class=\"wp-image-110227\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail\" aria-label=\"Slide 1 thumbnail\" js-thumbnail>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-thumb\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"224\" height=\"116\" data-attachment-id=\"110222\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/attachment\/4\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/4-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"1707,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"3.5\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"Canon EOS Rebel T7\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"1725002355\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"23\",\"iso\":\"1000\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0.003125\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"1\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lam participates in First Friday, an event she helped plan through her work supporting campus life.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/4-200x300.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/4-683x1024.jpg\" data-id=\"110222\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/4-224x116.jpg\" alt=\"Ashley Lam holds a snow cone at a student event outdoors on campus\" class=\"wp-image-110222\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail\" aria-label=\"Slide 2 thumbnail\" js-thumbnail>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-thumb\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" data-attachment-id=\"110217\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/attachment\/6\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"768,512\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"1744898765\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"1\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lam (left) has done technological-based research during her time at UMW, and plans to work in healthcare and study for the MCAT after graduation. Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6.jpg\" data-id=\"110217\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6-224x116.jpg\" alt=\"Ashley Lam in the lab doing an experiment with a fellow student in a UMW classroom \" class=\"wp-image-110217\" srcset=\"\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6-300x200.jpg 300w, \/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/6.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail\" aria-label=\"Slide 3 thumbnail\" js-thumbnail>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-thumb\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"224\" height=\"116\" data-attachment-id=\"110219\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/i1035-fw1-1\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/7-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1920\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"4.8\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"i1035\",\"caption\":\"i1035 FW1.1\",\"created_timestamp\":\"1774686429\",\"copyright\":\"Copyright 2002\",\"focal_length\":\"5.67\",\"iso\":\"80\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0.00153846153846\",\"title\":\"i1035 FW1.1\",\"orientation\":\"1\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lam (left) pictured with friend Haley Miller (right) at the 2026 CPB Block Party, one of the many events she helped organize as President of the CPB. &lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/7-300x225.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/7-1024x768.jpg\" data-id=\"110219\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/7-224x116.jpg\" alt=\"Ashley Lam poses with friend outdoors at 2026 CPB Block Party, one of the many events she helped organize\" class=\"wp-image-110219\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail\" aria-label=\"Slide 4 thumbnail\" js-thumbnail>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-thumb\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"224\" height=\"116\" data-attachment-id=\"110221\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/2-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/2-scaled.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1707\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"4\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"Canon EOS Rebel T7\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"1724998449\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"28\",\"iso\":\"1000\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0.025\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"1\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;As President of the Campus Programming Board and Vice President of her class, Lam volunteers at campus events such as First Friday, where CPB hosts indoor and outdoor activities on the first Friday of the semester.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/2-300x200.jpg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/2-1024x683.jpg\" data-id=\"110221\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/2-224x116.jpg\" alt=\"Ashley Lam at a CPB event\" class=\"wp-image-110221\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail\" aria-label=\"Slide 5 thumbnail\" js-thumbnail>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-thumb\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"224\" height=\"116\" data-attachment-id=\"110220\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/5-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/5-scaled.jpeg\" data-orig-size=\"1920,2560\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"1.5\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"iPhone 14 Plus\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"1739722684\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"5.7\",\"iso\":\"100\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0.0185185185185\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"1\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lam attended the National Association for Campus Activities conference, networking with student leaders and exploring new ideas and vendors for campus events at UMW.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/5-225x300.jpeg\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/5-768x1024.jpeg\" data-id=\"110220\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/5-224x116.jpeg\" alt=\"Ashley Lam sits in a swing at the National Association for Campus Activities conference\" class=\"wp-image-110220\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail\" aria-label=\"Slide 6 thumbnail\" js-thumbnail>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__slideshow__thumbnail__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-umw-gallery-thumb\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"224\" height=\"116\" data-attachment-id=\"110218\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/04\/umw-student-leader-helps-others-feel-welcome-at-mary-washington\/3-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/3.png\" data-orig-size=\"1927,1101\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta='{\"aperture\":\"0\",\"credit\":\"\",\"camera\":\"\",\"caption\":\"\",\"created_timestamp\":\"0\",\"copyright\":\"\",\"focal_length\":\"0\",\"iso\":\"0\",\"shutter_speed\":\"0\",\"title\":\"\",\"orientation\":\"0\"}' data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Lam (center) works with fellow Campus Programming Board members to host Mary Rocktoberfest, an outdoor Family Weekend concert featuring food and music.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-medium-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/3-300x171.png\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/3-1024x585.png\" data-id=\"110218\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umw.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/7\/2026\/05\/3-224x116.png\" alt=\"Ashley Lam gets food outdoors at a student event\" class=\"wp-image-110218\"><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__pager\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__pager__section\" js-page><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__pager__section\" js-page><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__pager__section\" js-page><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__pager__section\" js-page><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__pager__section\" js-page><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__pager__section\" js-page><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__pager__section\" js-page><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__description-container\" js-description-container>\n\t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__description\" js-description>\n                                                                        <div class=\"image-gallery__description__summary\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">UMW senior Ashley Lam welcomes future Eagles to campus as a Washington Guide&#8239;for UMW Admissions&#8239;&ndash;&#8239;a&#8239;group of tour-givers who&#8239;introduce prospective students to college life. <\/figcaption><\/div>\n                        \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__description\" js-description>\n                                                                        <div class=\"image-gallery__description__summary\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&nbsp;Lam&nbsp;participates in First Friday, an event she helped plan through her work supporting campus life.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n                        \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__description\" js-description>\n                                                                        <div class=\"image-gallery__description__summary\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lam&nbsp;(left) has done technological-based research during her time at UMW, and plans to work in healthcare and study for the MCAT after graduation. Photo by Parker Michels-Boyce.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n                        \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__description\" js-description>\n                                                                        <div class=\"image-gallery__description__summary\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lam (right) pictured with friend Haley Miller (left) at the 2026 CPB Block Party, one of the many events she helped organize as President of the CPB.&nbsp;<\/figcaption><\/div>\n                        \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__description\" js-description>\n                                                                        <div class=\"image-gallery__description__summary\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">As President of the Campus Programming Board and Vice President of her class,&nbsp;Lam&nbsp;volunteers at campus events such as First Friday, where CPB hosts indoor and outdoor activities on the first Friday of the semester.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n                        \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__description\" js-description>\n                                                                        <div class=\"image-gallery__description__summary\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lam&nbsp;attended the National Association for Campus Activities conference, networking with student leaders and exploring new ideas and vendors for campus events at UMW.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n                        \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t                    \t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image-gallery__description\" js-description>\n                                                                        <div class=\"image-gallery__description__summary\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lam&nbsp;(center) works with fellow Campus Programming Board members to host Mary Rocktoberfest, an outdoor Family Weekend concert featuring food and music.<\/figcaption><\/div>\n                        \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n                    \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section><p>When Lam&#8239;isn&rsquo;t&#8239;guiding prospective students or working with CPB, she serves as&#8239;vice&#8239;president of her class on UMW&rsquo;s&#8239;Class Council.&#8239;In this role, she addresses student concerns, particularly those related to campus engagement.&#8239;It&rsquo;s&#8239;a fitting position for someone as involved as&#8239;Lam. &#8239;&#8239;<\/p><p>&ldquo;Ashley is one of the strongest student leaders I have ever worked with,&rdquo; Finney said. &ldquo;She&rsquo;s always willing to put in the extra time and effort to make sure everyone feels like they have a home here &#8239;&ndash; &#8239;she just gets it.&rdquo; &#8239;&#8239;<\/p><p>Now just weeks from graduation, Lam is reflecting on how her leadership roles have shaped her college&#8239;career.&#8239;&#8239;<\/p><p>&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve experienced a lot of academic and social growth, and I&rsquo;ve built important skillsets for the future,&rdquo;&#8239;she&#8239;said. &ldquo;The connections I&rsquo;ve made with staff and faculty, and the ability to communicate and be professional in so many spaces, are things I will definitely take with me.&rdquo;&#8239;<\/p><p>After devoting the past four years to helping Mary Washington students feel at home, Lam is&#8239;prepared for&#8239;her upcoming journey into the medical field. Still, she knows her time on campus has helped students feel more involved, and she hopes that impact will inspire future leaders.&#8239;<\/p><p>&ldquo;When I first came to UMW, I never imagined I would be a campus leader,&rdquo; Lam said. &ldquo;Now, I hope my work motivates other students to take on leadership roles and shows that it&rsquo;s possible to balance being both a student and&#8239;a&#8239;leader.&rdquo;&#8239;&#8239;&#8239;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>byAt the University of Mary Washington, senior Ashley Lam has built a reputation for making campus life more welcoming for others by helping classmates and prospective students feel confident and connected from day one.&nbsp;A few days each week, the biomedical&#8239;sciences major departs the lab and can be found sporting a blue polo, welcoming future Eagles [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5200,"featured_media":110224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"umw_cb_additional_links":[[]],"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_advisory_expires_time":"","_advisory_meta_include":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[704],"tags":[708,15651,15660,15380,15661],"topics":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-110215","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-top-stories","8":"tag-commencement","9":"tag-commencement-2026","10":"tag-senior-spotlight-2026","11":"tag-senior-stories","12":"tag-senior-story-2026","13":"entry"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.3 (Yoast SEO v27.3) - 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