Ashley Joyner serves as President of the University of Michigan Alumni Association’s Phoenix Chapter, representing a community of more than 2,700 alumni and supporters across the Valley. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Pharmacology from the University of Michigan and earned her Master of Legal Studies in Healthcare Law from the University of Oklahoma in August 2025.
As Chapter President, Ashley is dedicated to strengthening the Michigan community throughout Arizona by fostering meaningful alumni connections, expanding mentorship opportunities, supporting student scholarships, and leading volunteer initiatives. Her leadership reflects a commitment to creating an inclusive and engaged alumni network that celebrates Michigan traditions while building lasting relationships across generations of Wolverines.
With more than a decade of experience spanning healthcare operations, regulatory compliance, business development, and healthcare technology, Ashley has dedicated her professional career to advancing healthcare innovation, strengthening organizational performance, and improving patient outcomes. Her experience encompasses clinical operations, healthcare policy, strategic partnerships, and technology-driven transformation. Combining her academic background in business, pharmacology, and healthcare law, she brings a multidisciplinary perspective to complex healthcare challenges, emphasizing ethical leadership, operational excellence, and sustainable innovation.
Ashley’s commitment to healthcare began at the University of Michigan, where she participated in clinical research alongside Dr. Moshe Talpaz, whose pioneering work in targeted cancer therapies, including Gleevec, helped transform leukemia treatment. During her mother’s battle with leukemia, Ashley witnessed firsthand the profound impact of medical research and compassionate patient care. These experiences shaped her dedication to patient advocacy, responsible innovation, and advancing healthcare solutions that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
Beyond her professional and volunteer commitments, Ashley is an avid sailor who has raced on Lake Pleasant, the Great Lakes, and waters near Seattle and Charleston. She enjoys traveling, exploring new cuisines, and spending time with her family and her two rescue dogs, Atlas and Enzo.
My Why
“The University of Michigan holds a deeply personal and transformative place in my life. It is more than the institution where I earned my degree. It is where my passion for healthcare, my understanding of leadership, and my commitment to serving others truly took shape.
My connection to Michigan is rooted in both family and purpose. During my time at the university, I had the extraordinary opportunity to participate in clinical research alongside Dr. Moshe Talpaz, whose groundbreaking work in targeted therapies, including Gleevec, revolutionized the treatment of leukemia. As someone whose family was profoundly affected by this disease, that experience carried a significance far beyond academics. It demonstrated the power of research, innovation, and compassionate care to change lives and offer hope to families facing extraordinary challenges.
But Michigan gave me more than an academic foundation. It gave me a community, a sense of belonging, and an understanding that leadership carries a responsibility to others. The relationships, mentorship, and opportunities I experienced as a Wolverine have continued to shape my life long after leaving Ann Arbor.
Today, serving as President of the University of Michigan Alumni Association’s Phoenix Chapter is both a privilege and a responsibility I hold close to my heart. My vision is to create a thriving alumni community where Wolverines across Arizona can build meaningful relationships, celebrate our shared traditions, support future generations through scholarships and mentorship, and make a lasting impact through service.
I believe the true strength of the Michigan community lies not simply in our accomplishments, but in our willingness to support one another and carry forward the values that unite us. Excellence, integrity, leadership, and service are not just principles we learn at Michigan. They are commitments we carry throughout our lives.
For me, choosing Michigan was never simply about earning a degree. It was about becoming part of something greater than myself. Michigan is woven into my family’s history, my professional journey, and the person I continue to become.
I am proud to carry that legacy forward, to serve the community that helped shape me, and to ensure that the Maize and Blue remain a source of connection, opportunity, and pride for generations to come.
Forever Go Blue.”