Press Kit
Darrell Ashworth is a West Virginia-based polymath whose life is defined by a profound dedication to lifelong learning, with a particular focus on the study of languages and literatures.
This philological and literary journey is central to his identity. This is most notably documented in his 2025 memoir, My Azerbaijani Journey, which chronicles a two-year immersion into the Azerbaijani language from his home in West Virginia. His academic exploration extends to Japanese and Russian literatures, which he lists among his core intellectual interests along with history, geography, numerous national literatures, the writings of Yasunari Kawabata and Rabindranath Tagore, and biographical/leadership explorations of unique people such as US Presidents, Israeli Prime Ministers, and Benazir Bhutto among others.
Beyond literary and historical studies, Ashworth's profile is distinguished by a remarkable range of professional, civic, and intellectual pursuits:
• Military & Civic Service: He served for five years in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) and held a secret security clearance.
• Political Engagement: He served as the State Chair of a presidential campaign and ran for public office twice.
• Industry Publications: During his time in manufacturing, Ashworth was featured in APICS Magazine and Quality Progress, the publication of the American Society for Quality.
• Scholarly Contributions: He was the Book Review Editor for the Journal of Field Ornithology and a freelance reviewer for other academic journals. Ashworth built a semester-long Blues Music History course for a private school in West Virginia among other endeavors.
• Cultural Advocacy: His listed interests include: Central Asian Literature, Blues Music History, African Literature and Theatre, and African-American Theatre, reflecting his advocacy for these artistic traditions.
• International Engagement: His foreign activities include interactions with several diplomatic missions, including the Embassy of Azerbaijan and four African embassies. Ashworth is a minority owner of two soccer teams in Northern Ireland: a men’s team and a women’s team. He is a long-time investor in Israel and provides small, interest-free loans to Israeli small businesses.
Outdoor Pursuits & Conservation:
Ashworth is a dedicated outdoorsman and conservationist. His relationship with nature includes significant achievements such as winning a highly competitive permit in the 2009 Kentucky elk hunting lottery and successfully harvesting an elk. An avid hiker, he has explored trails in 20 different states. As an angler, he has caught a rare McCloud Redband Rainbow Trout, a testament to his pursuit of unique fishing experiences. These activities complement his formal role in ornithology as a former board member of the North American Bluebird Society and lifetime member of the Association of Field Ornithologists.
Educational and Intellectual:
His intellectual pursuits are further recognized through memberships in Mensa, where he also served as a Scholarship Essay Judge for the Mensa Foundation, and the Royal Historical Society in the UK, to which he was elected in 2025. He holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and has earned twenty seven professional certifications in the fields of human rights, safety, quality, marketing, industrial/electrical, and teaching English. He has taken courses online from the University of Cape Town, Red & Yellow Creative School of Business, the University of Tasmania, Coursera, Udemy, eDx, and over 750 private literature, language, history, culture, and ethnicity lessons. His current research interests include Bengali language, octopus cognition, HBCU history, and woodpeckers.