Georgia Southern graduate student redefines fitness culture while fostering a passion for teaching both in and out of the classroom

Soon-to-be Double Eagle Ashley Claas says she has always had an A-type personality, both academically and athletically. 

“I’m a planner,” she said. “Everyone in my family had attended the University of Georgia, so, naturally, I also planned to go to UGA.”

Claas grew up in the small town of Watkinsville, Georgia, just south of Athens. 

However, she discovered that finding success and joy might mean deviating from plan A. 

“That year, there were double the applicants because of a flood of applications following the COVID-19 pandemic. So, I thought…what do I do now? Georgia Southern was one of the schools that welcomed me in, and my mom had suggested that I give it a shot even though I had never really been away from home,” Claas recounted. 

While completing her bachelor’s in secondary education with a focus in history, she began searching for ways to get involved with student teaching on campus. 

When she saw a listing for a group fitness instructor position in fall 2023, Claas decided to take another chance on herself and go for it. 

“I was a competitive dancer growing up, and I didn’t have the most healthy relationship with exercise or my body. And I think social media nowadays can be really discouraging when everyone looks picture-perfect all the time. Doing these classes helped heal something in me,” Claas said. 

Alongside growing her passion for group fitness, Claas chose to get involved in Greek Life on campus, joining Chi Omega during her time as an undergraduate student – another unexpected, but life-changing milestone for the education major. 

“I hadn’t originally thought that I would want to be involved in Greek life,” she said. “However, it opened up a lot of opportunities, and really helped me get to know people on campus, including my roommate of three years!”

After completing her undergraduate degree in 2024, she set her sights on her next challenge: a master’s program. Because of her previous work at the Recreation Activity Center (RAC), she was offered a position as a graduate assistant in the Department of Health Sciences and Kinesiology, teaching group spin classes, aerobics and small-group fitness, as well as mentoring the RAC’s newest instructors. 

“I told my mom I have this opportunity where I can get my master’s and have the tuition waived, while doing what I love,” Claas said. 

Her continued dedication to campus recreation has earned her some of the Campus Recreation & Intramurals’s highest awards: Leader of the Pack and Instructor of the Year, thanks to the support of staff members like Trish Evans, Georgia Southern’s group fitness program director. 

“Staff like Trish have, of course, been very encouraging and supportive during my time here. She made me feel confident in leading group fitness and sharing my love of inclusive, joyful classes with other students seeking that same environment,” Claas noted. 

Claas’s passion for fitness has extended beyond campus. In February 2026, Claas was a presenter at the Southeast Collegiate Fitness Expo, and had the opportunity to speak to more than 600 fellow students, showcasing her leadership skills and passion for fitness while representing Eagle Nation. 

With Georgia Southern’s flexible master’s in secondary education program, Claas says that balancing her passion for wellness and teaching, was surprisingly manageable despite her active lifestyle. 

“The secondary education master’s program has a smaller pool than other education programs, so I got to know a lot of my professors and instructors very well, and vice versa. My professors allowed me to tweak assignments to best fit my situation while still getting the same quality education.”

Although Claas affirmed that she enjoyed working with the faculty in her program, one professor’s kind words from the College of Education particularly stood out when discussing career plans after graduation.

“I went to speak with Dr. Barrow one day to just talk to her about my goals and dreams for the future. When I admitted that my time at the RAC had made me consider pursuing a career in professional group fitness instruction, she told me it was okay to try something different for a little while. There was nothing wrong with changing your plans, and changing them again,” Claas said.

For Claas, receiving validation that embracing change is a natural part of self-discovery was truly a meaningful moment. 

“It was validating to have someone who was a mentor and a teacher for me throughout my program to be so supportive,” she said. “She affirmed that there’s nothing wrong with me for wanting to try something different, and I feel that my time as a Double Eagle in Georgia Southern’s College of Education prepared me for teaching both in and out of the classroom.”

As for what comes next, Claas says she will certainly miss the little south Georgia city that became her home for five years. However, as she enters her next chapter as an alumna of Eagle Nation, Claas hopes to continue to inspire others to soar with Southern. 

She said, “I feel like I am the spokesperson for Georgia Southern now! If I were to give any prospective students advice, I’d say don’t be afraid to try new things! Get involved. You’ll fall in love with the community.”