Alumni Spotlight: Ashley Joo

Ashley Joo
Byron Nelson High School, Class of 2020

While at Byron Nelson High School, Ashley Joo (Class of 2020) immersed herself in leadership and service, holding roles in Student Council, honor societies and co-founding the school’s Model U.N. Club. Those experiences planted the seeds for her passion in international affairs and public service.

Now a 2025 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Fellow, Ashley is on the path to her dream career as a U.S. Diplomat. The fellowship — one of the most competitive in the nation — will support her master’s degree at Columbia University, as well as provide mentorship, skills training and internships on Capitol Hill and at a U.S. embassy abroad. 

From interning in congressional and state legislative offices to working in policy and politics, Ashley’s journey has been fueled by curiosity, service and a drive to make an impact.
She encourages future NISD graduates to “be open-minded, curious and unafraid of doing something different,” while also remembering to enjoy the small moments in high school. She recently shared her experiences and insights with us. 

Were you involved in any extracurricular activities at Byron Nelson High School?
I was involved in a multitude of extracurricular activities, where I held various leadership positions. Student Council, for one, was formative to my high school experience and ingrained a spirit of service and collaboration. I am still really close with the people from my class board and grateful for the opportunity we had to serve together.

Ms. Joo, can you tell us about yourself?
I am a 2025 Charles B. Rangel Fellow, and I will be pursuing my dream career in diplomacy. The fellowship is a U.S. State Department program that, through a rigorous selection process, awards 45 out of about 1,400 applicants up to $42,000 per academic year for a two-year master’s degree, professional development, mentorship and internships on Capitol Hill and at a U.S. embassy overseas. The program prepares promising students for careers as U.S. diplomats.

Upon completing the Rangel program and fulfilling the Foreign Service entry requirements, I will receive an appointment as a Foreign Service officer. I first became interested in the Foreign Service as an underclassman at Byron Nelson, where a friend and I founded a Model U.N. Club to discuss international issues like water rights. Around that time, I also learned about the fellowship. I knew it was highly competitive, so it feels surreal now to have achieved this life goal I once thought was out of reach.

What has been your path to the Rangel Fellowship? 
I grew up curious and inspired by the diverse communities I lived in. At the same time, I noticed disparities between those spaces, which motivated me to begin volunteering at a young age — tutoring under-resourced youth and serving food to the unhoused.

Recognizing the privileges I was afforded by my family, who immigrated from South Korea for educational and economic opportunities in the United States, shaped my passion for public service and addressing systemic inequities in our democracy.

Before beginning my government degree at the University of Texas at Austin, I interned for U.S. Representative Colin Allred in Dallas and later for U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett in Washington, D.C.

During my undergraduate years, I continued working in politics, including serving as a legislative aide for state Senator Borris Miles, where I drafted policy during the Texas legislative session. I also explored multimedia journalism through opportunities on campus. After graduation, I lived in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., working in the California State Senate, at a think tank, and on a presidential campaign before being selected for the Rangel Fellowship.

What have you learned throughout your journey?
The value in asking for help and building relationships with your teachers, professors, mentors and supervisors.

How did your experience at Byron Nelson High School prepare you for your future?
The AP classes I took in high school prepared me for the coursework in college and transferred as credits, which allowed me to graduate a year early.

What is one valuable lesson you took from NISD that you still carry with you today?
The honor societies I participated in kept me accountable as an active volunteer throughout high school. They allowed me to stay involved in my community and helped me develop strong time management skills.

What message would you like to share with the next generation of graduates? 
Be open-minded, curious, and unafraid of doing something different! Don’t stress too much — enjoy high school! Go to the football games, dress up for spirit weeks, and get involved.

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In our alumni spotlight series, Northwest ISD graduates share their experiences and discuss how their time in the district shaped their personal and professional journeys after graduation. If you would like to nominate an alum for this series, please complete this form.