Audrey Ashworth has joined the Darlington Community as assistant director of boarding admission, and interstingly enough, it was a friendship with Tiger alum C.J. Cypress ('07) that led her to apply for the position.
"I used to work with C.J. in the Admission Office at Young Harris College, and he told me about the open positions at Darlington," Ashworth explained. "C.J. always spoke so fondly of his alma mater, so I thought it sounded like a really interesting opportunity to explore."
Coming from Young Harris, Ashworth may be trading Mountain Lions for Tigers, but she will still be able to make use of everything in her wardrobe that is purple and white.
"I have found Darlington to be nothing but welcoming and friendly!" she said. "I love the community atmosphere, and the school immediately felt like home. I look forward to getting on the road and sharing all that Darlington has to offer with prospective families."
Ashworth is especially excited about the opportunity to live on campus.
"Living on campus was a huge selling point for me," she said. "Coming from higher education, students were on campus 24/7 and not just for academics. Connections were being made all the time. By interacting with students outside the classroom, not only will they learn from me, but I can learn so much from them. Living on campus also adds to the community atmosphere and makes Darlington everyone's 'home away from home.'"
Ashworth holds an A.S. in Business and a B.S. in Business and Public Policy from Young Harris, where she gained eight years of experience in admissions (four as a student and four upon graduating).
"We're excited to welcome Audrey, who has great experience working in the world of college admissions," said Julie Lucas ('97), chief advancemet officer. "I think the thing she's most excited about is living on campus and getting to know the students. It's clear she wants to make sure she finds students for whom Darlington is the perfect fit. As a plus, she already 'bleeds purple' from her days at Young Harris, and that will certainly serve her well here at Darlington."
Most recently, Ashworth served as YHC's assistant director of admissions and admissions coordinator, but she has also fulfilled the roles of regional admissions counselor and senior admissions counselor.
"I was a college representative throughout my four years of study at Young Harris," she said. "After graduation, an opportunity arose for me to become a regional admissions counselor and I haven't considered anything else!
"Working in education is very rewarding, even if you are not on the teaching side," she continued. "From an admission standpoint, I'm able to bring students to Darlington that would be a great contribution to the community. Once those students are on campus, I get to see them thrive and eventually graduate and move on to be successful young adults in the real world."
When she's not on the road recruiting new students, she enjoys movies, concerts, visiting family and friends, and spending time with her dog, Penelope.
