Alumni

Ashby Walker, MA ’00

Dr. Ashby Walker received her MA in Sociology from UNCG in 2000 and her Ph.D. in Sociology from Emory University in 2007. Dr. Walker serves as Associate Professor and Chair of Social Sciences at Mars Hill University in Asheville, NC and holds a joint appointment in The Department of Pediatrics at UF’s College of Medicine in Gainesville, FL.  Her areas of research include medical sociology and social psychology, with a particular focus on the social aspects of food and eating.  Her most recent research explores the experiences of youth with type 1 diabetes and the role of social capital in determining health outcomes.  Dr. Walker teaches a wide range of sociology classes, including The Sociology of Food and Eating, Medical Sociology, and Research Methods.  She is the recipient of five teaching awards and is a former Sloan Research Fellow. She lives with her husband Jeremy and 10-year-old daughter Bay in Weaverville, NC.