About Me
Ashley Prado
ORIGIN
Caracas, Venezuela
BASE
Miami, FL
FOCUS
AI for Social Impact
B.A. in Computer Science, Magna Cum Laude
Accelerated M.S. in Data Science & AI
Hi, I'm Ashley! 👋
I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and my journey has profoundly shaped the way I see technology and its potential to improve people's lives.
Moving to the United States meant starting over in a completely new environment, navigating unfamiliar systems, learning a new culture, and discovering opportunities that often felt difficult to access. Those experiences taught me resilience, curiosity, and empathy. They also inspired a question that continues to guide everything I build today:
How can technology create opportunities instead of barriers?
I graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science from Florida International University and am currently pursuing an accelerated Master of Science in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence. My work sits at the intersection of artificial intelligence, education, accessibility, and human-centered technology.
I am especially passionate about building AI systems that solve meaningful problems. Whether I am researching natural language processing for Indigenous languages, analyzing wearable health data, developing cloud technologies at Microsoft, or creating platforms that connect students with scholarships and research opportunities, I am driven by a simple belief: technology should expand opportunities, not limit them.
Throughout my journey, I have been fortunate to work across research, industry, education, and nonprofit leadership. As a Software Engineering Intern at Microsoft, I built cloud infrastructure solutions that improved the reliability of Azure services. As an AI researcher, I have contributed to projects focused on Indigenous language preservation and wearable health technologies. Through Code/Art, I introduced K-12 students to computer science, helping them discover that they could become creators of technology. These experiences have shown me that meaningful innovation happens when technical excellence is paired with empathy and purpose.
Leadership has become just as important to me as engineering. Serving as President of the Society of Women Engineers at FIU and advocating for students through Student Government has given me the opportunity to create spaces where others feel supported, represented, and empowered to pursue ambitious goals.
I believe leadership is not about standing at the front of the room. It is about opening doors so more people can walk through them.
One project that reflects this philosophy is Panther Opportunity Hub, an AI-powered platform I created to help students discover scholarships, fellowships, research opportunities, conferences, and leadership programs they are actually eligible for. As an international student, I experienced firsthand how overwhelming it could be to navigate countless opportunities while wondering whether I qualified. Building this platform became my way of making that journey easier for others.
Visit Panther HubOutside of engineering, I find inspiration in creativity and community. I enjoy traveling, painting, exploring new coffee shops, and spending time with my Yorkie, Chloe. These moments remind me that the best technology begins with understanding people and the stories they carry.
As I continue my career, I hope to help shape a future where artificial intelligence is ethical, inclusive, and designed with people at its center. I want to build technologies that solve meaningful problems, empower communities, and create opportunities for those who have traditionally been overlooked.
"At the heart of every line of code I write is the hope that someone else's journey becomes a little easier because of it."
Artificial Intelligence
Ethical and inclusive AI systems
Embedded Systems
Hardware-software integration for accessibility
Accessibility Tech
Technology that empowers all communities