Here at The University of Alabama (UA), we’re familiar with making history. UA began regularly breaking records in the 1950s under legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, and that success has continued to present day, with 18 national football championships under our belts as well as championships in other sports! However, Bama fans know that just as much history is made by our students as by our student athletes. Whether it’s in the classroom or even the campus newspaper’s offices, UA students have the ambition and talent to set records. Ashlee Woods is one such student who blazed a new trail when she became the first Black woman to serve as editor-in-chief of The Crimson White, the Capstone’s student-run newspaper.
Originally from Middletown, Delaware, Ashlee enrolled at UA to explore the possibilities through all UA had to offer.
“I thought the University was great and offered a lot of opportunities for me to grow – not only as a person, but also professionally – and that’s what initially drew me to the University,” she said.
Ashlee first began her journey into higher education as a political science student, but later had doubts about starting a career in law; so, she looked to her past to find inspiration. She grew up adoring any and every sport and would watch any sporting event she could with her family. After some encouragement from friends and personal reflection, Ashlee decided to change her major to news media with a concentration in sports media but kept political science as a minor. Now that she was on a new academic track, she jumped headfirst into the media world and began reporting for The Crimson White in her sophomore year.
Ashlee’s first year with the paper was explosive. She wrote dozens of articles about nearly every athletic program on campus, undeniably proving to everyone on the paper’s staff and in the Office of Student Media just how skilled her writing is. Within the next several months, it was clear she had the talent to rise within the editorial ranks and became the assistant sports editor for The Crimson White in January of 2021. Then, just a few months following this accomplishment, Ashlee advanced to become the sports editor in May and served in that position for the 2021-2022 academic year. In these roles, she worked with other editorial members of The Crimson White to plan what stories would appear in each publication, as well as helped staff reporters edit and improve their articles.
Her experience isn’t solely limited to writing and editing sports articles for The Crimson White. She also served as the 2022 – 2023 editor-in-chief for Nineteen Fifty-Six magazine, a student-led magazine that focuses on Black culture, Black excellence and Black student experiences at the Capstone. Ashlee gained a wealth of experience working with this media outlet as she oversaw all types of content and organized it into a cohesive work of art for the magazine’s fall and spring publications. Additionally, she was an intern for The Tuscaloosa Newsand the Birmingham Business Journal,where she covered the 2022 World Games. She’s even shadowed for an episode of ESPN’s Around the Horn with Tony Reali! Ashlee spoke about the different opportunities she’s had in reporting and shared some insight into what she enjoys from the process.
“I enjoy the fact that I get to meet different people from different walks of life that I wouldn’t interact with if I didn’t have the title of a journalist. That title has opened a new sector of life where I can meet different people and share their experiences, and I take that responsibility very seriously.”
With a stellar resume, Ashlee shines as she tackles each obstacle in her path. But she knows that no one’s journey is accomplished by themselves. She paid her respects to Student Media by detailing how her experience there has equipped her with the skills she needs to accomplish her goals.
“Student Media has helped me a lot. It’s given me the necessary tools to go out and be an intern at these places. A lot of the stuff I learn in the classroom is applied at The Crimson White, and I can use my real-life experience with The Crimson White to my internships. I’ve learned how to write better and how to handle ethical issues through the school paper, and that’s helped me tremendously. It gives me the confidence to apply for jobs and internships. I know I have the skill set already. . . because I practiced it here at the University.”
Throughout her time with Student Media and elsewhere, she’s always carried her identity as a Black woman close to her heart. After all, she is the first one ever to hold the position since the student-led paper began regular publications in 1894. She reflected on what the position means to her, and how she’s going to use her time as the editor-in-chief to improve upon the paper for others like her.
“There’s a lot of pressure that comes with being the first Black female to hold the editor-in-chief position at The Crimson White. I think a lot of that pressure is internal, because I’m carrying the responsibilities of Victor Luckerson and Joseph Bryant, the first two Black editors, on my shoulders, and trying to make sure that I create a path where it doesn’t take another 130 years for another Black woman to hold this position. I want The Crimson White to continue to be diverse, inclusive and equitable for all student journalists and any students interested in Student Media on campus,” she said.
Ashlee’s run with Student Media has been nothing short of revolutionary, especially when you factor in the prestigious awards she won along the way. Ashlee’s ambition and hard work have continued the story of another legend-in-the-making for the Capstone. She’s obtained a wealth of knowledge through her experiences and left us with a hopeful message for students after her who want to follow their dreams like she did.
“When I first got [to UA], I thought I had to shrink myself. I realized very quickly that people… value authenticity. Be who you are. Being who you are got you to where you are now, so continue to evolve and put in work. Surround yourself with really good people, because it’s going to be hard, but you’re going to be better for it.”