Ashley Orr is dedicated to pursuing social justice, advocating for the most vulnerable, and furthering her knowledge and expertise. Before pursuing her graduate degree, Ashley advocated for children involved in the child welfare system as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA). In this role, she worked closely with CPS, teachers, and other professionals to both understand the circumstances of the children appointed to her and to support their best interests. Ashley has also advocated for juveniles and young adults within the criminal justice system by contributing to and supporting initiatives designed to champion the use of social science in juvenile legal proceedings, fight the transfer of juveniles to the adult criminal justice system, and challenge post-conviction sentences. As a graduate student, Ashley’s field placement allowed her to work closely with vulnerable, underserved youth in rural areas by serving in five rural school districts. These experiences have shaped her interest in child welfare and strengthened her commitment to improving outcomes for children, families, and communities. She has joined the Child Welfare Research Center (CWRC) as a Child Welfare Scholar to work closely with researchers on projects aimed at transforming child welfare policies. She looks forward to strengthening her knowledge and skills by learning from skilled researchers and contributing to research-based solutions to child welfare issues.