MCCer of the Month: Making a difference drives Ashley Tanksley
Celebrating with Ashley Tanksley are Kim Rush, director of advising and retention; Leia Hill, vice president for institutional
advancement and executive director of the MCC Foundation; Tanksley; Deanna Smith, dean of student services; Annette Cook, (via FaceTime) interim vice
president for student success; and Brandon Dewease, director of student engagement.
“Having the opportunity each day to change someone’s life and my community for the better is the reason I come to work every morning.”
Ashley Tanksley encounters those opportunities frequently as the College’s director of admissions. Because of her efforts, she was named MCCer of the Month for July. The MCC Foundation sponsors this monthly award to exemplify the College’s hardworking employees who go above and beyond their job duties. Honorees receive a commemorative plaque and a $250 cash award.
A native of Meridian, Tanksley began working at the College three years ago as a recruiter; seeing those she recruited in 2018 graduate and later become community leaders counts as one of her proudest moments at MCC. And her favorite part of work? “Assisting students with the first step of their educational journey and meeting new people,” she said.
With a bachelor’s degree from Jackson State University in communicative disorders, Tanksley studied at the University of West Alabama, where she earned her master of education degree in student affairs in higher education.
When asked what she likes best about MCC, Tanksley said, “Every program at MCC offers hands-on experience. You will leave MCC with confidence in your ability to add value to our community’s workforce.”
Tanksley is the mom of two sons, Ethan, 4, and Ean, 2. She added, “They keep me on my toes.”