Ashley and David Helms like to say they “graduated together twice” from Nelson University. They earned their bachelor’s degrees in 2002 and completed their master’s degrees in 2009. Their story spans from Waxahachie, TX, to Oklahoma, from cassette tape lectures to executive leadership roles, and through every chapter, their Nelson education was at the foundation. 

Today, Ashley serves as Chief Academic Officer at Blue Ridge ISD, and David is EVP Enterprise Lean Six Sigma Architect at Origin Bank. 

Ashley’s connection to Nelson began long before she enrolled. Her grandmother was among the first students to relocate to Nelson’s Waxahachie campus. Her mother followed. Then Ashley stepped into Collins Hall, continuing a three‑generation legacy that shaped her sense of purpose. 

Ashley began her undergraduate program on campus before transitioning into distance education. David completed both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Nelson entirely through distance education. Together, they became part of Nelson’s very first online learning cohort. They mailed in assignments, watched lectures on cassette tapes, and had a woman from their church proctor their exams. 

“It was online before online was even a thing,” David said. 

For the Helms family, Nelson’s distance education program didn’t just make school possible; it made learning visible. Their boys watched them study at the kitchen table, listened to their discussions, and saw firsthand what a commitment to education looked like. 

“Education has been at the center of our family. One way our kids learned how to learn was by watching us learn,” David said.

Even though the Helms lived states away, Nelson’s faculty made sure they never felt far. “Both the undergrad and the master’s professors were amazing,” David said. “You could pick up a phone, and they would answer. It didn’t matter what time of day it was. They were committed to the program.” 

The Helms fondly remember many professors and mentors who impacted their time as students.

They carry strong memories of Brother Tom, a campus pastor who invested deeply in their early relationship. He walked with them through marriage counseling, prayed with them, and helped them build the foundation they still stand on today. 

“There is no way we could ever repay him,” Ashley said. His impact became one more way Nelson shaped not only their education, but their marriage, their values, and their future.

Before their careers grew, the Helms made it a priority to keep learning, keep advancing, and keep building the future they envisioned for their family. They wanted to be the best they could be both spiritually and professionally.

Their story represents what Nelson University does best: it equips students, strengthens families, builds leaders, and shapes generations. Ashley and David Helms didn’t just earn degrees at Nelson University; they built a life through it.

Greater with Faith. A Christ-centered community on campus and online. 

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