Ashley Claffee Merritt

Ashley Claffee Merritt is director of admissions for the University of Virginia School of Law. Prior to joining the Office of Admissions, she was an associate in the Washington, D.C., office of Willkie Farr & Gallagher. At Willkie, Merritt was a member of the firm’s Asset Management Group, where her practice focused on advising the sponsors of hedge funds and mutual funds on subjects ranging from operations to compliance and regulation.

Merritt received her B.A. in art history and a J.D. from the University of Virginia. As an undergrad, Merritt was a member of the University Guide Service, an Honor Committee support officer, and served as a Sustained Dialogue moderator. During her time at the Law School, she was the vice-president of the Student Bar Association, a member of the Black Law Students Association, and a Peer Advisor.

Before law school, Merritt was a Teach For America corps member and taught pre-kindergarten in Houston.