Asa Messer graduated from Brown University in 1790 and subsequently held various academic roles at the institution, including tutor, librarian, and professor. He transitioned from academia to public service, serving as president pro tempore and president of the College. Messer also engaged in entrepreneurial activities, patenting two flumes and owning a farm and part of a cotton mill. Despite his academic and entrepreneurial achievements, he declined a judicial appointment and ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1830.

Asa Messer blends an intellectual rigor with an entrepreneurial spirit, advocating for accessible education while also owning industrial enterprises. His legislative record reveals a surprising alignment with opposing factions on environmental regulations, suggesting a calculated strategy to safeguard regional industrial interests. Messer's educational leadership faced significant student unrest, hinting at a tension between progressive ideals and practical governance challenges.