Meet the Staff: Ainsley Chrystal

Born and raised in Ames, Iowa, Ainsley attended Smith College, another women's college in Massachusetts, where she majored in history and anthropology. She was a tour guide for Smith and was actively involved in its community, fostering a love for talking about school! So much so she attended Teachers College pursuing a Master of Arts in the History and Education program, where she researches women's history and, specifically, the impact and changes of women's higher education institutions from their inception. While at TC, Ainsley was the graduate assistant for the Admissions Office and is excited to continue her work in the Office!

Ainsley uses she/her/hers pronouns.

Reading Territories

Georgia, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York (Catskills, Hudson Valley, Northeast Queens, and Rockland County), Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia (Arlington and Fairfax Counties), and Wisconsin

Fun Facts

Why did you choose to work at Barnard?
I strongly believe in the importance of women's colleges and love any reason to extoll the benefits of a women's institution!

What is your favorite book?
There are too many to list, but for fiction I love Little Women by Louisa May Alcott and The Secret History by Donna Tartt, and for nonfiction I love We Keep the Dead Close by Becky Cooper and Sounds Like Titanic by Jessica Chiccehitto Hindman!

What is your favorite thing to do in NYC?
My favorite spot to go to is the John Singer Sargent room in the Met! You can't really go wrong with the Met in general!

What is your favorite place on campus?
The tables in the quad on a sunny day!

What is a random fun fact about yourself?
A Mets fan! LGM!