Ashley Neperud

What are your central passion(s), and how do you plan to pursue them after graduation? How have your experiences at Flagler shaped these passions?   

One of my central passions would have to be textual analysis. As an English and Religion major, reading and analyzing texts is a core part of my practice as a student. But taking Elementary and Biblical Hebrew during my first two years at Flagler made the act of textual analysis, interpretation, and translation an extremely crucial part of my education. It is no longer a tool I used for the advancement of my research, but a habit I’ve adopted as a lifelong learner.   

Who or what inspired your passion in this area?   

A CORE class entitled “From Adam to the Apocalypse” with Dr. Timothy Johnson was my very first encounter with the Bible and exegetical research. Dr. Buzz Brookman taught me Biblical Hebrew and introduced me to the act of translation. And Dr. Mimi Ensley encouraged my questions about religion in literature and helped me develop skills in critical thinking and textual analysis that I am forever grateful for.   

Can you share a memorable story from your time at Flagler that always makes you smile? What made this moment special for you?   

A time at Flagler that always makes me smile was the last Hebrew class I had with Dr. Buzz Brookman. We ended the class by translating a fragment from the Dead Sea Scrolls, and remembered how on the very first day of class (two years prior), our professor had pointed to an image of one of the scroll fragments, and told us that one day we would be able to translate it. It was a very full circle moment and is something I will likely never forget. 

Which academic resources, experiences, or mentors at Flagler were most valuable to you, and how did they contribute to your success?   

A mentor who I attribute my success to is Dr. Mimi Ensley. Since my first year at Flagler, Dr. Ensley has been in my corner and has constantly supported me. She has encouraged all my curious projects, taught me more than I can say about a variety of topics in literature, and most importantly has been an incredible mentor, advocate, and friend to me. The day I decided to apply to grad school, the first thing I did was reach out to Dr. Ensley. Without her unwavering support and guidance, I would not be in the position I am in today.   

I would like to extend a special thank you to Dr. Jack Daniels. I will always look to him as my first ‘friend’ in academia and am forever grateful for his companionship and support.   

What advice or lesson would you give to your freshman year self about the college experience?   

A lesson I would give to my freshman year self is to appreciate and embrace every connection I make. It truly does go by too fast, and the people who’ve shaped my experience here are the hardest ones to say goodbye to.     

In the Flagler spirit, how do you hope to make history after graduation? Share any exciting experiences, professional positions, or unique opportunities you have lined up. 

I hope to make history after graduation through my contributions to the academic world. Starting this fall, I will attend Harvard Divinity School for a Master of Theological Studies for the next two years.