Ronald Ashley
Teacher, Photographer, Documentarian
Biography of RJ Ashley
“We should stake our whole existence on our willingness to explore and experience.” Martin Buber
My journey as a teacher, photographer, and documentarian has been a deeply fulfilling one. I originally hail from Akron, Ohio, and have been dedicated to the art of photography since 1968.
I completed my undergraduate and graduate studies at Kent State University in Ohio, and later earned my doctorate from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Over the span of thirty-six years in public education, I’ve had the privilege of teaching a variety of subjects including American history, photography, and video production.
My career has allowed me to teach both still photography and video production at secondary schools and universities, an experience that has greatly enriched my understanding and appreciation of these fields.
From 1994 to 2020, I’ve served as an adjunct professor in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Nova Southeastern University, where I contributed to the development of educators who were seeking their master’s degree.
My passion for documentary photography was ignited in 1970 during my time as an exchange student at Pahlavi University in Shiraz, Iran. This transformative experience led me to pursue documentary work with NGOs starting in 1999. I’ve had the opportunity to travel to various countries including Peru, Honduras, Haiti, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Tanzania, capturing the profound impact of these organizations on the communities they serve.
One of my most memorable experiences was climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in 2018, where I successfully reached the summit after six days. That same year, I returned to Moshi to document the efforts of a surgical group from the United States at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
My journey continues to be driven by a deep commitment to both education and the art of storytelling through my documentary work. The words of the philosopher Martin Buber provides define my approach to what I do, “Human life and humanity come into being in genuine encounters. The hope for this hour depends upon the renewal of the immediacy of dialogue among human beings. The world is not comprehensible, but it is embraceable: through the embracing of one of its beings … We should stake our whole existence on our willingness to explore & experience.”
I hope to convey the beauty and resilience of daily life through my photographs and video work, celebrating the common threads that unite us as members of the human family.
“We should stake our whole existence on our willingness to explore and experience.” – Martin Buber
Rooted in a lifelong passion for visual storytelling, my journey as a teacher, photographer, and documentarian spans more than five decades. Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, I began exploring photography in 1968—a pursuit that has since evolved into a profound career blending education, artistic expression, and global engagement.
I earned both undergraduate and graduate degrees from Kent State University, and later completed a doctorate at Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Over a 36-year career in public education, I taught American history, photography, and video production, nurturing creativity and critical thinking in students across a range of academic levels.
From 1994 to 2020, I served as an adjunct professor in the Master of Arts in Teaching program at Nova Southeastern University, continuing to mentor educators with a focus on the transformative power of visual media.
My passion for documentary photography was born in 1970 during a formative exchange experience at Pahlavi University in Shiraz, Iran. Since then, my camera has taken me across the globe—from the streets of Peru and Honduras to the highlands of Tanzania—documenting the stories of communities served by humanitarian NGOs. Each project has deepened my belief in the human capacity for resilience and connection.
Among my most memorable experiences was reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2018, followed by documenting a U.S. surgical team’s work at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Moshi, Tanzania. These journeys are more than travel—they are a form of dialogue with the world, a way of embracing life through shared stories.
Whether in a classroom or behind the lens, I am guided by a simple but powerful truth: genuine human encounters give meaning to our lives. Through photography and film, I strive to illuminate the beauty, dignity, and common tread that bind us all.
