A native of Merritt Island, Florida, Dr. Rebecca Ashford is the first in her immediate family to graduate from college. Dr. Ashford graduated with an Associate in Arts degree from Brevard Community College (now Eastern Florida State College). After earning her AA degree, she transferred to the University of Central Florida in Orlando, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in English Education. In the early part of her college career, Dr. Ashford planned to teach high school English until a part-time job as a peer advisor while attending UCF as an undergraduate student gave her a passion for helping college students fulfill their dreams.