BETHANY W.Va. (May 28, 2026) – When Ashley Subasic ’06, MAT ’12 first set foot on Bethany’s campus, she wasn’t looking for a small liberal arts college, but she took advice from her high school scholarship coordinator, who told her Bethany had an exceptional education program. One visit to campus was all it took. The location, the close-knit community, and the possibilities for growth convinced her she was exactly where she needed to be.
Ashley arrived with a clear vision: she loved history, especially the Civil War era, and she dreamed of teaching it. She initially double-majored in education and history, but in an early conversation with her advisor, Dr. Gary Kappel ’74, they reshaped her plans. When she shared her interest in becoming a college professor, he explained that she only needed an undergraduate degree in the field of study to teach at the collegiate level, so she shifted to a history major, setting the foundation for the path ahead.
On campus, Ashley joined Zeta Tau Alpha and played intramural sports, embracing the balance of academics, leadership, and community involvement that defines the liberal arts experience. “Looking back, I wish I had been even more involved,” she said. “Bethany offers so many opportunities to grow as a person, not just as a student.”
After graduating with her B.A. in history in 2006, Ashley returned to Bethany for the inaugural cohort of the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program, earning her degree in 2012. Today, her career is a tapestry of roles enriched by the adaptability, curiosity, and broad skill set she attributes to her liberal arts education. She serves as the billing & construction coordinator for an architecture and engineering firm in Wheeling, W.Va., works part-time for a seasonal museum, and teaches West Virginia history and geography as an adjunct instructor at Bethany.
“My current position is something I didn’t have formal training in,” Ashley said. “But Bethany’s liberal arts foundation taught me how to think, adapt, problem-solve, and take on new challenges. That’s what prepared me.”
To students hoping to follow a similar path, she offers heartfelt advice to get involved, try new things, and be open to discovering unexpected passions.
“You may not know exactly what you want while you’re at Bethany, and that’s okay,” she shared. “Use your time here to explore. What you think you’re meant for might change, and sometimes that’s where the best opportunities come from.”
For Ashley, Bethany was a place where she learned to explore new ideas, trust her instincts, and follow a path shaped by passion and opportunity.
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