Dr. Ashley Tharpe

Experience

• 15+ years as an online educator
• Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®), National Commission for Health Education Credentialing
• Leadership experience in online program management, accreditation, and faculty development.
• Extensive background in curriculum design, course assessment, and learning management system implementation.

Biography

Dr. Ashley Tharpe serves as an Online Chair and Professor in Liberty University’s School of Business. In this role, she provides academic leadership for online programs, supporting faculty in course delivery, assessment, and student success initiatives. She collaborates with university leadership to promote instructional quality, ensure accreditation readiness, and foster continuous improvement across the School of Business’s online offerings.

Dr. Tharpe has more than fifteen years of experience in higher education, where she has led large faculty teams, guided curriculum development, and managed online program growth. She is a Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES®) and has served in various leadership capacities within national and state-level professional associations. Her research focuses on leadership and organizational dynamics in higher education, technology adoption, and strategies that enhance faculty engagement and student learning outcomes.

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Tharpe, A., Plichta, S., Robertson, A., & Baskette, K. (2024). Mentorship Matters: Promising Results from VPHA’s Pilot Mentorship Program. Virginia Journal of Public Health, 8(2). https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/vjph/vol8/iss2/5
• Tharpe, A. (2024). Lessons Learned: A Case Study on the Creation of an Online PhD Program. FDLA Journal, 8(16). https://nsuworks.nova.edu/fdla-journal/vol8/iss1/1
• Tharpe, A., Averin, A. (2024, January). Exploring AI in Education and Reimagining Assessments. Conference on Teaching Excellence, Liberty University [Webinar]
• Tharpe, A. (2024, February). AI in Higher Education: Transforming Learning and Assessment. Florida Distance Learning Association Conference
• Tharpe, A. (2024, March). Creating Your Online Presence. Virginia Public Health Association Mentorship Program [Webinar].