Political science alum gives back to the university that changed his world view
Paul Ashba, CLAS '75, credits his liberal arts education at Wayne State University for his ability to adapt to changes in his life and career. The first in his immediate family to attend college, Ashba pursued a political science degree from Wayne State and a law degree from Georgetown University.
"I pretty much knew that I wanted to go into political science, and I stuck with it," Ashba recalled. "Law school was always my plan."
The liberal arts education Ashba received at Wayne State shaped his career and his lifelong appreciation for arts and culture.
"Wayne State is a university geared to residents of the urban area, so we could work and go to school around our schedules," said Ashba. "But also, as a child of the suburbs, it was really the first introduction to a much wider world."
Meeting people from across the metropolitan area and being exposed to the cultural center of the city enhanced Ashba's learning experiences at Wayne State. Classes in the humanities led to a lifelong love of learning, and one class in particular led to an affinity for art. Ashba became deeply connected to the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). To give back to this great cultural resource, he became a member of the DIA Founder's Society - a private support association for the museum.
Although from humble beginnings in the Detroit area, Ashba has been senior corporate counsel for nearly 12 years at Genentech, Inc. in San Francisco. At Genentech, a biologic pharmaceutical company and a member of the Roche Group, Ashba supports and advises the sales and marketing teams.
"My political science background has been very useful in that area," said Ashba. "But because I've been fortunate and able to work with clients and companies on a global scale, the background in world history and sociology that I got at Wayne State has been quite helpful. That broad liberal arts experience is relevant in almost every aspect of my life. I think a liberal arts education enables you to learn how to learn - and I'm constantly doing that in my career."
A steady donor to the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Ashba acknowledges how donations to the university changed his life.
"When I first started at Wayne State, I was on scholarships, grants and financial aid," Ashba remembers. "One of the particular grants was the Sigmund and Sophie Rohlik Foundation Scholarship, which was a major assistance in getting me started in my career."
Inspired by the financial generosity of donors like the Rohliks, Ashba wants to donate to the university that changed his worldview and gave him the background and skills to easily adapt to any work environment.
"I was the recipient of a great scholarship, and I feel that I'm obligated to pay it forward," said Ashba. "Hopefully it will help others experience an institution that was so important in my life."