Ashley McClellan (BBA '04)
The SMU Cox School of Business is proud to call Ashley McClellan (BBA ’04) one of our own.
Just seven years after graduation, McClellan, a Cox Alumni Board member, has set the health care industry ablaze with her accomplishments and accolades. McClellan, vice president and chief operating officer at Medical Center of Lewisville, a 202-bed, 850-employee facility, was named among the Dallas Business Journal’s 2011 Top 40 Under 40 business professionals, and received the Dallas/Fort Worth Hospital Council’s 2011 Young Health Care Executive of the Year award.
In the midst of her professional success, McClellan remains humble saying, “My connection to SMU opened so many doors for me. If it weren’t for my SMU network, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
As an SMU student, McClellan obtained degrees in Finance and Spanish and landed a Spanish interpreter position at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) in Dallas the summer before her senior year. McClellan then earned two master’s degrees from Texas Woman’s University, a Master of Hospital Administration and an MBA, before entering a one-year residency at TSRHC. She was then accepted into the Hospital Corporation of America’s (HCA) Chief Operating Officer Development Program at a medical facility in her hometown of Overland Park, KS.
During her stint in Kansas, McClellan reengaged with Cox at an alumni reception where she interacted with Cox School Dean Al Niemi and Kevin Knox, associate dean of external relations and executive director of the Cox Alumni Association, as well as prospective students and their parents. “I felt a strong connection to Cox and wanted to represent the school publicly. Kevin invited me to serve as a Kansas City representative on the Cox Alumni Board.” She also went on to serve on SMU’s Young Alumni Board. Now McClellan says, “There is no way I would be in my current role if it weren’t for SMU. I feel responsible to give back and provide the same experience for current students. As an alumna, it is rewarding to see the rising caliber of students and the progress of SMU.” McClellan also gives back by encouraging others to give. “All alumni should give no matter the amount. It demonstrates support which improves our academic rankings. Alumni support elevates the university and the value of our SMU degree. It’s the right thing to do.”
The Cox School of Business is appreciative of McClellan’s generous support and leadership on the Cox Alumni Board. In addition to her demanding professional life, McClellan is the wife of Brett McClellan and the mother of their two year-old son, Brooks.