ASHLEY K. SMALLS
Scholar. Writer. Social Media Professional.
ABOUT
Personal Profile
I'm Ashley K. Smalls, a media professional best known for my ability to build brand awareness through the intelligent use of social media. I approach every challenge with enthusiasm, creativity, and a ceaseless desire to achieve success. This passion and drive have paved the way to countless opportunities, unique experiences, and exceptional relationships both personally and professionally. If you’re interested in learning more about me, keep reading or get in touch.
EXPERIENCE
Work History
Jan 2021 - Sep 2021
PINTEREST EDITOR, WOMEN'S HEALTH MAGAZINE
Responsible for posting and sharing creative, eye-catching content for the Women's Health Pinterest page.
Aug 2018 - Aug 2019
ASSISTANT SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR, DAILY MAIL
Assist with the daily maintenance of all the official Daily Mail accounts to engage with readers and drive traffic
Sep 2017 - Oct 2018
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER, NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Promote the New York Daily News brand and content across Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
EDUCATION
My Studies
August 2019 - Present
PHD, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
My main research interests center on the intersection of Black feminism and Pop Culture. I am particularly interested in how Black women are represented in media and how they participate in digital fandom.
January 2016 - Dec 2016
MA, CUNY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF JOURNALISM
For my master's thesis, I studied and reported on black women in the workplace and created a chatbot integrated with social media platforms to help report workplace harassment.
August 2010 - May 2014
BA, PENN STATE UNIVERSITY
I majored in Broadcast Journalism and minored in theatre. I received the Lamco Communications Inc Scholarship and Norman C. and Mollie Miller Journalism Scholarship.
MY SKILLS
Tricks of the Trade
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGEMENT
I have used my social media expertise to help rethink what social strategy is and launch successful campaigns, grow followers, boost engagement, increase sales and find a loyal audience.
BLOGGING AND CONTENT CREATION
I run a pop culture blog called Brooklyn Blerd, where I create memes and write about my interests in various movies, tv shows, and video games. In 2021, I had over 30,000 visitors due to my Bernie Sanders meme.
FANDOM STUDIES
As a scholar, I focus on the critical exploration of fan and audience studies across a variety of media. Specifically, I explore the production and consumption of popular media (including film, music, television, and gaming).
