Dr. Ashurst is a Senior Extension Specialist for Family and Consumer Sciences Extension. She serves as PI for a variety of grants focusing on outreach and support to military families and Co-PI for Kentucky's Children, Youth and Families at Risk (CYFAR) joint grant with Kentucky State University focusing on life skills for underserved and unstably housed youth. Kerri also serves as a Federal Coach for the CYFAR Professional Deveopment and Technical Assistance Center.
Dr. Ashurst's focus is building state-wide capacity for reaching underserved or at-risk children, youth, families, and communities. Kerri's primary areas of interest include families who are coping with major crises such as illness or death of a family member; positive youth and young adult development and positive mental health; couple communication and relationship building; military families and reconnection after deployment; and stress management. Dr. Ashurst has worked with the FCS Extension unit at UK now for over 25 years.
Professional Licenses or Certifications
- International Association of Coaching Masteries Practitioner
- Professional Certification in Trauma and Resilience: Level 1 and Level 2, Florida State University
- Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Gatekeeper Instructor
Scholars@UK
FY2023 Military Teen Adventure Camps (2025 Kentucky)
Ashurst, K. (PI), Atkinson, T. (CoI) & Schrader, K. (CoI)
3/1/25 → 8/31/25
Project: Research project
CYFAR Professional Development and Technical Assistance Center
Ashurst, K. (PI) & Atkinson, T. (CoI)
9/1/22 → 8/31/25
Project: Research project
Kentucky Cooperative Extension: Promoting Change Through Youth Engagement
Ashurst, K. (PI), Atkinson, T. (CoI) & Jones, K. (CoI)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
9/1/24 → 8/31/25
Project: Research project
FY2023 Military Teen Adventure Camps
Ashurst, K. (PI) & Atkinson, T. (CoI)
3/1/24 → 7/31/24
Project: Research project
2023 Military Teen Adventure Camp
Ashurst, K. (PI) & Weisenhorn, D. (CoI)
3/1/23 → 7/31/23
Project: Research project
CYFAR Professional Development and Technical Assistance Center
Ashurst, K. (PI)
1/1/19 → 3/31/23
Project: Research project
Scope: DOD/USDA Extension Military Partnership Overall Leadership
Ashurst, K. (PI)
3/1/17 → 8/31/17
Project: Research project
Child care and Youth Training and Technical Assistance Project-State Extension Liaisons
Ashurst, K. (PI) & Stephenson, L. (Former PI)
5/1/11 → 6/30/14
Project: Research project
Military-Extension Adventure Camp Initiative
Ashurst, K. (PI) & Stephenson, L. (CoI)
3/1/11 → 2/29/12
Project: Research project
Operation Military Kids Camp Initiative/OSD Supplement 2011
Ashurst, K. (PI) & Stephenson, L. (CoI)
2/1/11 → 8/31/11
Project: Research project
Operation Military Kids Camp Initiative/OSD Supplement
Ashurst, K. (PI) & Stephenson, L. (CoI)
4/1/10 → 9/30/10
Project: Research project
Operation Military Kids: Camp Initiative/Joint Family Support Assistance Program Supplement
Ashurst, K. (PI)
2/1/09 → 9/30/09
Project: Research project
CYFAR Professional Development and Technical Assistance Center
Ashurst, K. (PI)
1/1/19 → 1/1/19
Project: Research project
Strong Dads, Resilient Families
Jones, K. (PI), Ashurst, K. (CoI) & Kurzynske, J. (CoI)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
8/1/13 → 7/31/18
Project: Research project
The YMCA, UK, and KSU: YES (Youth Engagements and Support)
Jones, K. (PI), Ashurst, K. (CoI) & Kurzynske, J. (CoI)
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
8/15/14 → 8/14/19
Project: Research project
Education
- Ph.D., Family Sciences, University of Kentucky, 2007
- M.S., Marriage and Family Therapy, University of Kentucky, 1998
- B.A., Psychology, University of Kentucky, 1995
Associated Departments