Wendy Ashley

Dr. Wendy Ashley, Psy.D., LCSW, is a Black and biracial clinician, professor, author, change agent, and Department Chair of the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at California State University, Northridge. Nationally recognized for her work in antiracist clinical practice, intersectionality, and trauma-informed care, Dr. Ashley has built a distinguished career navigating professional spaces while wrestling with the personal challenges of sustaining a biracial identity in a world that frequently demands monoracial clarity. For years, she moved through life straddling multiple realities, learning to adapt without fully belonging—until she found the courage to examine the silences she inherited and the narratives she suppressed. This book represents a pivotal act of reclamation: An intentional, vulnerable exploration of biracial identity and belonging. In curating this work, Dr. Ashley not only confronted her own truths but also cultivated a collective space for others to do the same, building community among contributors whose experiences illuminate the complexities, contradictions, and power of living and thriving in liminal, in-between spaces.