University of Missouri

May 6, 2024
Contact: Courtney Perrett, 573-882-6217, cperrett@missouri.edu

Ashley Cade has always been fascinated by the weather. Now, on the verge of graduating with a degree in environmental studies with an emphasis in atmospheric science from the University of Missouri, the Kansas Citian hopes to push the frontiers of meteorology.

During her Mizzou career, Cade was deeply involved with the Mizzou Meteorology Club, where she served as treasurer and later vice president. In an effort to diversify meteorology on campus, Cade also served as treasurer of the Mizzou Women in Meteorology Club — a group that serves as an advocate for underserved groups wanting to be involved in meteorology at Mizzou. She was also traditions chair for the Little Sisters of the Golden Rose, a service-based sorority.

“I really enjoyed getting to serve my community alongside my like-minded sisters,” Cade said. “It was something that was super fun and full of lots of great opportunities.”

Read on for a Q&A with Cade about her Mizzou experience.

Why did you choose Mizzou?

I chose Mizzou not only because it was fairly close to where I'm from, but also because the university had a lot to offer for me, especially in the realm of meteorology and environmental science. I also felt like I was at home on this campus.

What is your favorite Mizzou memory?

One of my favorite Mizzou memories is definitely my time in meteorology club. As part of being a member of the club, I got to launch weather balloons for the National Weather Service. The balloons would collect data on the weather, which I’d then analyze to help professional meteorologists predict tornado watches and other severe weather events. It is bittersweet having to say goodbye to people, but it also reminds me how much work I've put into the club and how many friends I have in this community. It was such a great time to celebrate the end of the year with people I met in this space.

What is your favorite thing about campus?

I think that my favorite thing about campus is how many study spaces you can find. You could study at the library or in any number of random buildings for a change of scenery. There are a lot of great places to hide away and get things done.

How has Mizzou helped you achieve your goals?

Being at Mizzou has helped me make incredible connections with professional people in my field. Meteorology is somewhat niche, so it’s beneficial to have such a great established network online, which has led to opportunities. One thing that we've done on campus that I'm proud of is that we've founded the Campus Weather Forecast. It’s available online and also plays in the student center, so you can see the weather forecast for the day. I was really proud to be a part of that.

What’s next for you?

After graduation, I'll be heading up to North Dakota to work as a radar meteorologist for the North Dakota Atmospheric Science Board. I’ll be studying cloud seeding and hail suppression. My education and hands-on experience at Mizzou definitely prepared me for this role and gave me all of the knowledge that I needed to feel confident in taking this next step.

Story written by Courtney Perrett