Spotlight On: Ashley Lutz

Coworkers to Best Friends to Masters: Ashley Lutz

Ashley Lutz has been a student at Centenary University for seven years; she first completed her bachelor’s degree in psychology, then decided to further her education to obtain a master’s degree in school counseling. Lutz is one of 135 students who will receive their master’s degree at Centenary’s Commencement on May 10, 2025.

What made you decide to major in psychology?

I was originally an elementary education major as an undergraduate, but about two years in, I realized I was more drawn to the social-emotional side of working with children rather than the academics. I have always been interested in human behavior, and I have always known that I wanted to work with children, so switching to a bachelor’s in psychology just felt like the right move for me and my goals.

Why did you decide to continue for your master’s in school counseling?

When I graduated with my bachelor’s in 2022, I was really torn between going for my master’s in school counseling or clinical counseling. With a clinical counseling degree, there are more paths you can take when it comes to the clients you want to work with and the setting you want to work in. However, I’ve always been drawn to the school environment. The schedule, with summers and breaks off, was a big plus, and I knew I wanted to focus on working with children specifically. School counseling just felt like the right fit.

What degree does school counseling fall under? Do you know how many students are in the program?

School Counseling falls under a Master of Arts degree. I’m not exactly sure how many students are in the program overall, but most of my classes usually have around six to nine students. At the beginning of the three-year master's program, many of our courses were combined with clinical counseling students, so the class sizes were a bit larger. That overlap gave me some exposure to the clinical counseling side as well, which is helpful in case I ever decide to go that route down the line.

Why did you choose Centenary? 

I chose Centenary because its small size fosters a more personal and engaging learning environment. The close relationships I’ve built with my professors have been incredibly valuable—opportunities I might not have had at a larger university.

Do you enjoy commuting? What are the pros and cons?

I live just five minutes from campus, so commuting has been really convenient for me. One thing I really appreciate about the master’s program is the flexibility—it offers both in-person and virtual classes. After my first year, I transitioned to mostly virtual courses, which has been a great fit. While I do miss the in-person connection at times, the small class sizes help maintain that sense of community, so the experience hasn’t felt all that different.

Have you taken part in any clubs or organizations during your time at Centenary?

No, but I wish I had! Centenary offers a lot of different enrichments for every student, but I was working part/full-time during a majority of my college career, so I wasn’t able to prioritize it.

Have you taken part in any internships or other work opportunities through Centenary?

Yes! As part of my master’s program, I’m required to complete a 600-hour internship/practicum. Since September, I’ve been a school counseling intern at Benedict A. Cucinella Elementary School in Long Valley, which is especially meaningful because it’s the school I attended as a child. I absolutely love it, and the experience has given me the reassurance that I’ve chosen the right career path.

Do you have any jobs that you work when you aren’t at school? What are they? 

Throughout my first two years in the master’s program, I worked full-time as a behavior specialist at a center for young adults with autism. Then I transitioned to working as a behavioral paraprofessional in a school setting, which allowed me to work more closely with the age group I hope to work with after graduation. I’ve also done some substitute teaching at the high school level. On top of that, I’ve been working at a restaurant called Taste of Italy since I was 17, which is actually where I met Sami! Throughout both my undergraduate and graduate studies, I’ve consistently babysat and even had a short job at a chocolate shop owned by one of the families I babysit for. I have kept myself busy!

Do you have any plans after graduation?

I’ve recently started applying for school counseling positions and hope to have a role secured in time for the upcoming school year. I’m really looking forward to taking the next step

and beginning my career in a field I’m passionate about.

What is your dream job? 

My dream job is to be an elementary school counselor.

What is something no one knows about you?

Something most people don’t know about me is that I struggled a lot academically growing up and was often labeled by teachers as ‘lazy’ or not trying hard enough. It wasn’t until my freshman year of high school that I was diagnosed with inattentive ADHD and finally received the support I needed. Those personal challenges have had a huge impact on me and are a big part of what inspired me to become a school counselor—I want to be the kind of support for students that I wish I had during those years.

If you could tell your freshman self one thing, what would it be?

If I could tell my freshman self one thing, it would be to trust the process and not be so hard on yourself. You’re going to face challenges, but those struggles—especially with academics and figuring out your path—will shape who you are and lead you exactly where you’re meant to be.