Ashley Riley is a Visiting Instructor of English in the Department of Languages, Literature and Mass Communication at Colorado Mesa University, where she teaches English Composition I and II. Her classroom is built on the idea that learning is something we do together. She encourages students to ask questions, share perspectives and challenge ideas while developing the confidence to find their own voices as writers.
Whether analyzing a text or drafting an essay, Riley strives to make writing feel approachable rather than intimidating. She uses discussion, collaborative activities, readings and hands-on practice to help students strengthen their communication skills and recognize that writing extends far beyond the classroom.
Riley’s scholarly interests center on Holocaust literature, particularly survivor narratives, as well as critical literacy, cultural studies and the ways literature shapes identity. As a doctoral student at Indiana University Bloomington, her research explores how literature helps students better understand themselves, others and the world around them.
Originally from Colorado, Riley is excited to be teaching in her home state after living in Texas and North Carolina for several years. Outside the classroom, Riley enjoys hiking, camping and exploring everything the Western Slope has to offer.
Riley has been teaching English since 2011 and has had the opportunity to work with students at community colleges and universities in Colorado, Texas and North Carolina. Throughout her career, she has taught developmental reading and writing, English Composition, World Literature, American Literature, British Literature, Critical Thinking, Technology and Society and Cultural Studies.
Teaching across a variety of institutions and course levels has reinforced Riley’s belief that every student brings unique experiences, strengths and perspectives into the classroom. Whether she is working with first-year composition students or discussing literature with advanced learners, her goal is to help students build confidence as writers, thinkers and communicators while creating meaningful connections to the material.
Ashley Riley's curriculum vitae
