Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Erin Ashworth-King

Since her arrival on campus, Ashworth-King has immersed herself in the Ram Family community and now serves as a professor of English and chair of the Natalie Zan Ryan Department of English and Modern Languages. Over the past 15 years, she has taught over 25 different courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels, served on numerous department and university committees, and been a research mentor to nearly a dozen undergraduate students.

A few other highlights of Ashworth-King’s campus activities include serving five years as an officer of the ASU Faculty Senate, including a year as president, acting as the general editor of ASU’s five-year and 10-year SACS-COC Reaffirmation Report for renewal of accreditation, and making numerous presentations on campus and at a variety of professional conferences. She also helped voice ASU’s award-winning 2024 Christmas Video.

Along the way, Ashworth-King’s service to ASU has been recognized with a host of honors and awards, including:

• 2023 Gary and Pat Rodgers Distinguished Administrator Award
• 2016 ASU President’s Award for Faculty Excellence in Leadership/Service
• 2014 & 2016 Wonderful Woman of ASU Award
• 2012 & 2015 Rodgers Distinguished Faculty Award Nominee
• 2011 ASU Faculty Excellence Award Nominee

Why did you choose to work at ASU?

I interviewed at ASU in 2009 and was overwhelmed by the kindness of the hiring committee, my future colleagues and the students I met in that short trip. By all rights, the trip was stressful: my flight in was delayed until after midnight, but my faculty mentor, the incomparable Dr. Mary Ellen Hartje, still picked me up at the airport. I was then met by faculty that morning and welcomed into the ASU community with open arms throughout the day. Indeed, after 15 years at ASU, I have always felt welcomed, and I hope that I may continue to contribute to an inclusive and open culture. 

“After 15 years at ASU, I have always felt welcomed, and I hope that I may continue to contribute to an inclusive and open culture.”

Where is your favorite place on campus and why?

I really love the atrium between the two sides of the Academic Building. The light bounces off the walls and the air blows through gently. On the first day of classes, the eagerness of students is infectious as they find their classrooms and nervously ask for directions (the odd numbering of the rooms helps facilitate conversation!). But, even after the first day, if you walk through that space, you can hear the murmurings of students as they move between classes, building friendships that will last longer than any class.

What has been one of your most memorable experiences since coming to ASU?

The most memorable experiences that filled me with such pride in my students were the staged readings of the Shakespeare plays performed by the students in my Shakespeare course. We staged “Much Ado About Nothing,” “Macbeth,” “Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “As You Like It” and “Twelfth Night” in the auditorium over five years, with each production more sophisticated and involved than the previous. Students created characters, designed costumes, coordinated stage combat and reveled in the language that was written over 400 years ago, making it come alive again for themselves and the audience.

What would you say to prospective students who are considering attending ASU?

Anyone who values a thorough education and the individual attention of faculty mentors should come to ASU. Not only do we have some of the best scholars and researchers in the nation, but we have those scholars and researchers who genuinely want to share their knowledge with others. Here, you will receive a top-notch education from knowledgeable and compassionate faculty who wish for each student to succeed.

“Here, you will receive a top-notch education from knowledgeable and compassionate faculty who wish for each student to succeed.”