Dr. Ashley Gripper is a grower, spiritual herbalist, and community-rooted scholar who embodies the energy of Sankofa and Ubuntu. She is a level 2 graduate of Sacred Vibes Apothecary Spiritual Herbalism Apprenticeship. Her approach to healing is grounded in a Body-Mind-Spirit-Community framework for understanding the connections between Earth, people, and the cosmos. Dr. Gripper’s work bridges ancestral wisdom and technologies with modern scientific inquiry to shape how we care for each other and earth’s ecosystems. Ashley is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Health at Drexel University and faculty at the Ubuntu Center on Racism, Global Movements, and Population Health Equity. There, her teaching and research explore how reconnecting to land-based ancestral practices supports healing, ecological reciprocity, and collective liberation. Ashley holds a B.A. in Sociology from Arcadia University, an M.P.H. in Epidemiology from Columbia University, and a Ph.D. in Population Health Sciences from Harvard University. As a dynamic speaker carrying messages from Spirit, Ashley has delivered dozens of keynotes, presentations, and invited talks across the globe. Her written work and scholarship have resonated with a massive audience, generating over 1 million views and driving conversations in public health, environmental stewardship, and Black food justice. Interested in having Dr. Gripper speak at your event? Submit your inquiry here.