TRUSTEE ROSEMARY ASCENCIO, CLASS OF ‘17

Inspired by her friend’s choice to major in business, Dr. Ascencio decided to try the field. But her uncertainty about what direction she wanted to take made the first few months difficult, and she started to fall behind in some of her courses. “I was not sure what I wanted to do,” she expressed. “I thought I maybe wanted to be a teacher, [but] business sounded attractive, [mainly] in that I would always have a job available.” However, after consulting with her professors and advisors, she realized that her goals not only led to teaching in elementary or secondary schools, but she had a more comprehensive selection of industries and other supportive roles to choose from, like those in higher education. With that in mind, she continued on the business track.

more involved in campus activities, joining the Latino Student Union, beginning as a student senator and representative for commuter students, and becoming the Student Association President in her senior year.

Dr. Rosemary Ascencio is one of many who have walked the hallowed halls of Washington Adventist University and passed under its totem, the Gateway to Service. As a first-generation college student, she was the second in her family to attend WAU, preceded by her older sister, Cindy. In 2017, Dr. Ascencio graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and

Management at Washington Adventist University. She then completed a Master’s of Business Administration at the University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) and later her Doctorate of Business Administration. Dr. Ascencio is an Academic Program Coordinator and adjunct professor at UMGC. Recognized for her passion for student engagement and success, she was nominated to WAU’s Board of Trustees, where she currently advocates for student success.

Dr. Ascencio first learned about Washington Adventist University from another alumna, a family friend from her local church—someone she considered an ideal role model for success. Dr. Ascencio’s mother also heard about the friend’s time at WAU and wanted that same experience for her children, encouraging them to attend the university once they finished high school. The Ascencios had never been exposed to private schooling, let alone Christian education. It was

One thing that Dr. Ascencio missed most from her time as a student at WAU was its familial and spiritual community. As a commuter student, her school days mainly consisted solely of attending classes and returning home once they were done. Eventually, as her friends began to invite her to events on campus, she understood why her mother wanted her to attend WAU. “I started to feel the sense of community, and I think that’s what made it completely different for me, to be surrounded by people who believed what I believe,” she reminisced. “It’s a rightsized institution ... you feel that sense of family and of belonging, where you are not just another number and where if you are struggling academically, it’s easy to identify and figure out how to support them.” From then on, Dr. Ascencio became

Serving in a position where she could benefit students was one of many factors that motivated Dr. Ascencio to pursue a career in higher education. “Wherever life took me, I wanted to be in a place where I was in a position where I could help students in the same way I was helped.”

After graduating from WAU in 2017, she later received a job offer from a previous mentor — who also gave her her very first job in high school — to work in admissions at UMGC. It was where she wanted to be, so she accepted and has continued to aid the student population there while completing her Master’s in 2019 and her doctorate in 2022.

In 2020, Dr. Rosemary Ascencio was nominated and invited to WAU’s Board of Trustees. When she was a part of WAU’s student government, there were opportunities to visit board meetings and relay student concerns. Still, she never thought she would one day be on the other side of those meetings, amongst the university’s leadership. As an alumna, Dr. Ascencio has a unique perspective on how WAU’s policies and operations affect its community. She has walked the same halls and understands the barriers they may face and the experiences they need to do well. WAU President, Dr. Weymouth Spence, said, “the participation and contributions from alumni trustees, such as Dr. Rosemary Ascencio, influence positive change resulting from conversations and board actions that leads to excellence in student success and overall institutional outcomes.” Now, as one of its leading decision-makers, her goal continues to be to pay it forward, aiding students in their academic achievements, reaching their goals and becoming successful as it relates to them and their journeys.