Landing the dream job: How a St. Mike’s grad found passion for filmmaking, success with ‘Ms. Rachel’

As a junior at Saint Michael’s College, Ashley DeLeon ’23 took her first film class at the urging of her advisor. While she was hesitant at the beginning of the semester, she soon discovered a passion for editing and filmmaking that eventually launched her career. 

Today, DeLeon can be seen channeling her passion for media into changing the future of children’s education television programming. A year and a half ago, DeLeon took a filmmaking job for Ms. Rachel, one of the most popular children’s educational YouTube-turned-Netflix series in the U.S. 

Ms. Rachel has become a wildly successful show watched by millions of families. DeLeon is now doing everything from animation to audio, and now even front-of-camera work having her own segment on the show. 

Netflix recently began licensing episodes of Ms. Rachel, and since then, the children’s series has reached the #1 spot on Netflix Kids. As Ms. Rachel expands its reach, DeLeon gets to play a key role in this growth. 

Ashley DeLeon ’23 (left) with the cast and crew of Ms. Rachel during an interview with Good Morning America.

Honing her craft and finding a passion

Reflecting on their journey over the last two years, DeLeon credits much of her success to the well-rounded education and confidence she gained during her four years of education at Saint Michael’s College. 

“I was so well equipped coming out of school, I knew that I would do well. I had so much support — I was just surrounded by people encouraging me,” DeLeon said. “I wasn’t afraid to apply to big things, because I knew that I had it in me to do it. And that confidence came from St. Mike’s.”

DeLeon spent four semesters at Saint Michael’s College honing her writing and journalistic skills working for the student-run publication, The Defender, convinced her place in life was meant as a journalist. It was not until her junior year that DeLeon learned her passion for media extended beyond the newsroom and into filmmaking, writing, directing, animating, and now even acting. 

DeLeon’s time as a Digital Media and Communications major played a crucial role in her preparation to join the Ms. Rachel team – especially in learning the many varied skills she uses in the professional world. 

Ashley DeLeon ’23 (center) poses with Digital Media & Communications professors Jon Hyde and Kimberly Sultze during her graduation from Saint Michael’s College.

“DMC [Digital Media and Communications] is a multidisciplinary major, and it is a rare gem in academia,” DeLeon said. “I was able to jump into the critical examination, but also the research side of media, and at the same time produce media. In many college programs, you’re doing one or the other.” 

Professors like Kimberly Sultze and Jon Hyde were especially influential in DeLeon’s academic career. She said their guidance and encouragement constantly pushed her creatively. 

“They are the reason why I am where I am today,” DeLeon said. “I have no shame admitting that – it really is the truth. I call them my creative enablers. No matter what big creative idea I would have, they would always encourage me to go for it and to think even bigger.”

Hyde emphasized how amazing it was working with DeLeon from the beginning of her career at Saint Michael’s College. 

“She was always incredibly curious about big picture issues and learning how to become fluent in nearly all forms of media to reveal important stories that people needed to hear or see,” Hyde said. “After teaching for over 30 years, it’s definitely one of the highlights of my entire career to see her succeed in the ways that she has.  But don’t blink, I know there will be more to come.”

Honing in on children’s educational media

While a student at Saint Michael’s College, DeLeon was Editor of The Defender for three semesters, worked at the Media Creation Studio during its first year open, was on the Student Government Association E-Board, and was a part of the Community Health Action Network. 

These activities outside of the classroom helped her establish skills in public speaking, leadership, organization, adaptability, and how to work within a small team, all of which have helped her succeed in her role at Ms. Rachel. 

It was during her Digital Media and Communications Senior Seminar that DeLeon focused her interest entirely on children’s media – a project that later secured her the position working for Ms. Rachel. 

Donoghue Award winner Ashley DeLeon with presenter Mike Donoghue.

“When I took senior sem, I was like, ‘You know what? Like, I’m gonna focus entirely on children’s media, because this is the thing I think I want to do when I graduate,’” DeLeon said. “And then in Hyde’s TV Studio Production class, my very final project, [I produced] two videos that were tailored to preschoolers.”

She added, “That project is the main driver for me getting the job that I have now because I took that leap.”

As Ms. Rachel continues to grow under their new partnership with Netflix, DeLeon will continue to remain at the forefront of their team shaping children’s educational programming. DeLeon’s ability to take creative risks and learn new skills speaks to the foundation she built in her four years at Saint Michael’s College. 

Looking to the future, DeLeon hopes to continue on this path of providing education through media and is hopeful for where her career will take her. 

“I just love educating people through media,” DeLeon said. “So, really, the dream is to just continue what I’m doing wherever it takes me. As long as I stick to my purpose, the dream is being fulfilled.” 

More information about the Digital Media and Communications major can be found here.>>