Featured Alumni: Ashley (DeBenedetto) Jacobsen

The Jacobsen Family. (From left to right: Ryan, Ranger, Trooper, Maverick, and Ashley.)

Ashley was born and raised in Sanger and graduated from Buchanan High School in May 1999.  She joined SFHC as a Scholar in its inaugural class in August of that year, and graduated magna cum laude in May 2003 with a B.S. in Business Administration (Accountancy).  She started her professional career at one of the largest international professional services organizations in the world with a branch in Fresno. Five years ago, she joined Moss Adams, LLP, wherein she advises privately held agribusiness and food processing companies, specializing in assurance services. Ashley has benefited from the industry programs focused on retaining diverse talent, and pays it forward by leading efforts to build upon Moss Adams’ inclusive culture. Moss Adams recognized her efforts this past November by awarding her with the Employee Diversity & Inclusion Leadership award.

Ashley and her husband, Ryan Jacobsen (a class of 1998 President’s Scholar), currently reside in Easton and have three sons, Maverick (9), Ranger (6), and Trooper (3).

Ashley has stayed close to the Honors College after having worked as a student assistant in the SFHC office during college. She has presented at colloquium in September 2018 and in a joint presentation with Ryan in February 2017, she was the keynote speaker at the freshman welcome reception in August 2016, and has served as an ambassador and a challenge match donor for the SFHC on the Day of Giving for the past couple years.  Ashley is supportive of the SFHC because of the impact the program had on her, and our community.

Reflecting on her time at SFHC, Ashley wrote the following: When I reflect on my time in the SFHC, I am so appreciative of the intimate community we had in the honors college. It has taken me a bit of time to realize what a priceless opportunity it was to experience college with a cohort of intelligent and ambitious individuals who inspired me to dream bigger. When I started at Fresno State, I never thought that I would be actively involved and hold leadership positions with the Council of President’s Scholars, a professional fraternity, and ASI. Likewise, when I started in my career, I did not expect to be where I am now. The opportunities I had with the SFHC definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone, and built upon the growth mindset that I had started to foster earlier in life. 

I am excited about hosting the “SFHC Interview Series” to share the experiences and impact of SFHC alumni, in their professions and communities. If you’re interested in sharing your experience or have others in mind who you would like to hear from, please let Dr. Attar know.