Ashley Chenery

Ashley trained at the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet before pivoting to study Comparative Literature and Communication & Culture at Fordham University. In leading ballet classes and rehearsals as President of the Fordham Jetés Ballet Company, she discovered a passion for teaching she has pursued ever since!

She also began researching social media use and adolescent body image, becoming a helpline operator for the National Assoc. of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) and presenting research on Capitol Hill as an Ambassador for the Eating Disorders Coalition (EDC).

She continued her exploration of body image and social media via a Masters in Media, Culture & Communication at New York University. Ballet remained a vital part of her life at NYU, where she published research on fatphobia in American ballet and served as Research Assistant to Dr. Jennifer Homans, Director of NYU’s Center for Ballet and the Arts.

After her MA, Ashley taught Public Speaking as an Adjunct Professor at Pace University and served as Communications Fellow at the United Nations. She also returned to the stage, performing works by emerging choreographers at dance festivals throughout New York City.

Now a PhD student in Psychology at the University of Sydney, Ashley researches the impact of AI-generated influencers on viewer body image. She hopes to contribute an evidence base for compassionate social media policy to protect user mental health. She credits her background in dance—above all, her ballet friends—with opening doors throughout her journey, enriching her life in ways she can’t begin to describe!

Ashley is eager to offer confidence-boosting support to fellow dancers as they forge their own unique paths. She is happy to chat about academia, social science research, teaching, and graduate school.