Dr. Ashley C.J. Daniels is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of the District of Columbia.  Her teaching and scholarship focus on the political behavior of Black women and girls and community-engaged research methods in political science.  In addition to her faculty position, she also serves as the inaugural project director with the Black Girls Vote Research Network, board member of No Boundaries Coalition, and research partner with Black Girls Tribe.

This award is presented in recognition of Dr. Ashley Daniels' unwavering commitment to using scholarship as a force for community empowerment. At the University of the District of Columbia, Dr. Daniels has made service-learning a transformative practice—centering the political power, leadership, and civic engagement of Black women and girls. Through intentional partnerships with organizations such as Black Girls Vote and Black Girl Tribe, Dr. Daniels ensures that community engagement is reciprocal, grounded in trust, and sustained over time. Dr. Daniels' teaching and research model what it means to practice equity in action—uplifting voices often unheard, fostering deep reflection among UDC students, and advancing participatory research that adds rather than extracts. Dr. Daniels is, as her colleagues so aptly describe, one of the “real ones”—a scholar, educator, and changemaker whose light continues to guide students, colleagues, and communities alike.