Willard W. C. Ashley Sr.

Dr. Willard W C Ashley is a New Jersey State Certified Psychoanalyst, trained Marriage and Family Therapist, and Certified Group Psychotherapist. He is the President and CEO of Dr. Willard Ashley, Sr., LLC in Montclair. Ashley is a retired professor of practical theology from the New Brunswick Theological Seminary (NBTS). He was the second African-American in the 230 year plus history of NBTS to be granted tenure and the first African-American to be named Dean of the Seminary. Currently, Ashley is an instructor at the Rutgers University, School of Social Work, DSW Program and a trustee/faculty at the New Jersey Institute for Training in Psychoanalysis. Since 1996, Dr. Ashley has served as the founder and senior pastor of the Abundant Joy Community Church, Jersey City, New Jersey.

Willard Ashley has served as the senior pastor at churches in New Hampshire and New Jersey, since 1982. He has a long history as a community organizer and social activist. Ashley has testified before Congress on environmental, health and urban issues. Ashley has won $1.2 billion dollars in federal lawsuits and settlements against Fortune 100's to clean up chromium in Jersey City, NJ.

Ashley is a contributor to The Men of Color Study Bible. Will hosted his own program on Black Entertainment Television (BET). He was on the radio in New York City for six years. Ashley was the assistant dean of students and director of recruitment at the Andover Newton Theological School. Will worked with senior level executives and major law firm partners as an executive coach. He was in demand by Fortune 50's following September 11, 2001.

Dr. Ashley was the Project Director for the Care for the Caregivers Interfaith Program, Council of Churches of the City of New York. It was the largest clergy resiliency program in the United States. It was funded by the September 11th Fund and the Red Cross. Ashley first got involved in disaster response and recovery when a group of pastors asked him to come help following Hurricane Andrew in 1992. He has since responded to the call for help in Amsterdam, New York City, The Gulf Coast and the Turk Islands. He was hired by the New York Board of Rabbis for four years to serve as a supervisor to their on site pastoral care counselor following Hurricane Katrina. Ashley's full time calling remains that of a pastor, psychoanalyst, CEO and community activist.

Will was the director of the Blanton Peale Pastoral Studies Program in East Orange, New Jersey. He was also the director of pastoral care at Barnert Hospital Paterson, New Jersey, where he set up a clinical education program for clergy. He also set up the clinical education program for clergy at the Hackensack University Hospital, Hackensack, New Jersey. Ashley was the chair of The Instituto Latino de Cuidado Pastoral, Inc. in New York City and a Board Member of Christ Hospital, Jersey City, New Jersey.

Will is a native of New York City. He is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Theory at Montclair State University. Will has a master's degree in theology and an earned doctorate in leadership development from the Andover Newton Theological School, Newton Centre, Massachusetts. Will holds an honorary Doctor of Humanities from Natchez College, Natchez, Mississippi. He completed the residency program in Marriage and Family Therapy, as well as Psychoanalysis at the Blanton Peale Graduate Institute, New York City. Dr. Willard Ashley lectured at Princeton and The University of Pennsylvania. He taught at, Drew University, Andover Newton Theological School, and The New York Theological Seminary.

Reverend Ashley was a staff psychotherapist at The Riverside Church, New York City and the Montclair Counseling Center, Upper Montclair, New Jersey. He holds associate membership in The American Association of Marriage Family Therapists, the American Group Psychotherapy Association and National Association for the Advancement of Psychoanalysis. Dr. Ashley published a book with Rabbi Stephen Roberts, entitled, Disaster Spiritual Care. He has published articles on disaster recovery, led seminars on disaster response and served as a keynote speaker. Ashley was awarded a grant from the New York Community Trust, to work on a research project, which studied new interventions to address racial disparities in health care. Dr. Ashley is the recipient of numerous awards. He is in Who's Who in Medicine and Healthcare, Who's Who in America and Who's Who in the World. He is the proud father of an adult son "Chris"