Biography

My name is Ashlee Ratliff and I am a social work major at Longwood University and a senior in the Cormier Honors College.

Throughout middle and high school, I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life; go to Longwood, graduate in 2023, and become a nurse practitioner. However, all of that changed quickly after I arrived at Longwood University. Being exposed to so many people and so much education stimulated my imagination and allowed me to consider alternate avenues for my life than the one I had chosen for so long. Thus, I matriculated into the Social Work program at Longwood University in Spring 2021.

This natural curiosity led to a deep passion for the field of social work with a special interest in advocacy, policy, and crime-related social work. As such, I have spent countless hours of my undergraduate education focused on this goal, ending in opportunities such as interning at a domestic violence shelter and the Virginia Department of Social Services.


My plans after graduation are to obtain employment as a social worker working in family services through the Virginia Department of Social Services, with a focus in policy, advocacy, and domestic violence work. I also plan to apply for my Master’s in administration, planning, and policy practice social work shortly after graduation at Virginia Commonwealth University.