Accent Magazine | spring 2024 Edition

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

TREASURED MEMORIES AT ASHLAND UNIVERSITY

Iwrite to you today with a mix of emotions as Karen and I transition from Ashland University to the Museum of the Bible after nine remarkable years here. It has been an incredible journey filled with growth, accomplishments and treasured memories. As we reflect on our time here, we are overwhelmed with gratitude for each and every one of you who has been part of this extraordinary community.

When I arrived in 2015, we were welcomed with open arms and embraced by the faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, partners and the wider community. Your unwavering support, prayers and kindnesses have meant the world to us. Together, we have achieved great things, and we are immensely proud of what we have accomplished as a team.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the exceptional faculty and staff of AU. Your dedication, expertise and passion for education have been the bedrock of our success. You have tirelessly worked to provide our students with an exceptional learning environment, nurturing their intellectual growth and shaping their futures. Your commitment to our mission and unwavering support have been invaluable.

To the students of AU, you are the heart and soul of this institution. Your enthusiasm, curiosity, drive to do what is right and thirst for knowledge have inspired me every day. I have witnessed your growth and transformation, and I am confident that you will go on to achieve great things in your lives. It has been an honor to serve as your president and witness your incredible potential firsthand.

To our esteemed alumni, you are the living embodiment of the AU legacy. Your accomplishments and contributions to society speak volumes about the education and Brethren-forged values instilled in you during your time here. I am grateful for your continued support and engagement with the university, and I have no doubt that you will continue to make us proud.

We would also like to extend our gratitude to our generous donors, partners and the wider community. Your belief in our mission and your support have allowed us to realize our aspirations and make a meaningful impact. From a new indoor athletic facility, military and veterans center and campus renovations, to new programs in physician assistant studies and industrial engineering, none of this would have happened without you!

As Karen and I prepare to embark on a new chapter of our lives, we carry with us the lessons, experiences and cherished memories from our time here. The achievements we have all accomplished together will forever hold a special place in my heart. I am confident that Ashland University will continue to thrive and make a positive difference in the lives of future generations.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the president of Ashland University and Ashland Theological Seminary, and we wish all of Eagle Nation continued success, joy and fulfillment in your endeavors.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Carlos and Karen Campo

Leading with gratitude

a Look back at President camPo’s nine-year tenure

WhenCarlos Campo, Ph.D., arrived as president nearly a full decade ago, Ashland University, and the educational landscape for that matter, were in a much different place. This spring, he’ll bid farewell after having guided AU along a path to improvement in virtually all areas, ranging from academics, to financials and facilities, to student success. Of most importance, AU currently is on strong footing and an attractive option in the highlycompetitive and turbulent marketplace that is today’s higher education.

Of course, there were significant challenges to navigate along the way, starting with the first few days at his new home. An outsider to north central Ohio — Campo’s previous higher education leadership experience took place at Regent University on the coast of Virginia and in Las Vegas, Nevada — he had few connections. He also found there was no formal strategic plan in place at AU, which had just endured some “really tough publicity,” he noted. Essentially, Campo had to start from scratch.

“We came to Ashland with the idea that every student is created with a purpose that only he or she can fulfill. (That’s) something we’ve repeated in our hearts and minds.”

— Carlos Campo, Ph.D, Ashland University President

“We had a year of an interim (president). It wasn’t as though we were building something (as we are now),” reflected Campo. “We had to start a strategic plan. I remember working on it that very summer … and when the fall semester started, we had a (five-year) strategic plan in place. Building a leadership team was part of it as well.”

There was some positive news at the outset, too. The previous administration announced a tuition reset, which resonated with families and helped lead “to a very strong enrollment period both in 2015 and 2016,” according to Campo. That created much-needed momentum for the new administration.

With an improved budget outlook and enrollment numbers, Campo and his team went to work implementing the “Ashland Rising 2020” strategic plan, which focused on academic excellence, Christian identity, financial stewardship, campus environment and community engagement. The “Rich History, Bold Future” plan followed five years later, featuring three foundational themes of transformational experiences, empowered community and strategic growth.

While there were differences between the two plans due to shifting priorities in higher education, ever-changing technology and student desires, there were also overlapping ideas. Campo always has looked to retain Ashland’s focus of “Accent on the Individual,” a promise to students that their academic journey will include oneof-a-kind individual attention from faculty and staff in a safe and welcoming environment.

Campo and the executive leadership team also consistently focused on developing key relationships with alumni and other donors, community leaders and state officials, as well as faculty and staff. Ultimately, those relationships turned plans for a series of initiatives into reality.

Through the dedicated and focused work of many, Ashland was able to complete numerous transformational projects during Campo’s tenure that have strengthened the university. And, they were able to complete some of those, and manage new ones, during the COVID pandemic, which presented unprecedented logistical challenges in delivering a student’s education.

Jim Hess, chairman of the AU Board of Trustees, took special note of that when issuing a statement of deep appreciation for Campo’s service. “(Dr. Campo’s) leadership through challenging times in higher education has put AU in a much better place than it was when he arrived in 2015. Dr. Campo’s commitment to our mission to develop students that work, serve and lead with integrity has been a beacon of light in a season where not all universities share that commitment.”

Campo is thankful for the Board’s long-term support. At nine years, he is believed to currently serve as the second-longest tenured president among the 51 members of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Ohio, and that stability helped Ashland move forward. “When it comes to strategic planning, it takes years to see that implemented… we would not have accomplished as much as we have without that continuity,” he said.

President Campo’s fondest memories revolve around the individual connections he made with students, especially those who got “on track” while at Ashland.

A supporter of all things Ashland, President Campo could frequently be found at art exhibitions, musical ensembles, lectures and Eagles athletic events, even cheering in the student section.

October 2017

October 2021

2015

The many projects that will forever change the landscape of AU, during the tenure of Carlos Campo, Ph.D.

October 2020

It is difficult to encapsulate nearly a decade’s worth of work into a list of accomplishments, but Campo tried to narrow down some of what he feels will be the most impactful for AU:

4 Substantial growth of the Correctional Education program, from serving 1,000 students to an average of 3,200 per semester

4 Formation and completion of the “Campaign for Every Individual,” which raised more than $100 million, doubling the initial goal of $50 million

4 Dramatic improvements to the campus infrastructure, including the complete renovation of Clayton Hall and a series of beautification projects

4 New academic programs in physician assistant studies (graduate) and industrial and systems engineering (undergraduate)

4 Expansion of the Ashbrook Scholars and College Credit Plus programs

4 Construction of the Niss Athletic Center, a state-of-the-art, 125,000-squre-foot, multi-use facility

January 2022

May 2021

4 Establishment of the Military and Veteran Resource Center to support military-connected and veteran students

4 Expansion of the athletics program with four new sports, including being one of the first in the nation to add esports and STUNT

4 Initiated Accent on Communicating program to help students improve both their written and oral communication

“Our campus has become an amazing place,” Hess added in his statement.

These accomplishments during Campo’s tenure will leave an indelible mark on AU, as well as his presidential legacy. But for the 30th president in Ashland history, it’s the little moments and personal relationships he’ll remember most fondly.

“When I think of the moments that stand out to me, it’s always with students,” he said. “When a student says, ‘Ashland changed my life. It put me on a different track where I found purpose and meaning in my life.’ Those moments where you see that you’ve had an impact on a student’s life where they were put on a track that really became different for them.”

The Jack W. Liebert Military & Veteran Resource Center

Archer Library

Prayer Garden

Donges Field Enhancement Project

Niss Athletic Center

August

October 2023

August 2022

October 2023

September 2022

A lot of educational institutions boast about their transformative nature, but through Campo’s first-hand experience, he believes those aren’t just words at Ashland. There are lived-out experiences – on the main campus, at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Mansfield and at correctional institutions throughout the country –that inspired him and were capped off with meaningful celebrations at each commencement exercise.

“We came to Ashland with the idea that every student is created with a purpose that only he or she can fulfill. (That’s) something we’ve repeated in our hearts and minds. So, every commencement is a celebration of that, they all come to mind,” he revealed.

Campo continued, “The commencements that we’ve participated in on-site at our correctional institutions have been among the most enduring memories. It’s one thing for a student to talk about the transformative power of our mission, but when you see it lived out with… (those) who have often been associated with negative things and now (they) say this has been the pinnacle moment of their life, that is really enduring.”

By Campo’s side every step of the way, at commencement ceremonies, ribbon cuttings, national championship games and so many other celebrations, has been his wife and trusted confidant, Karen Campo. He is always quick to credit her unwavering support, and also for her own contributions to AU, which include the Prayer Garden outside the chapel and the interior design of the Lyceum Café, two projects that bookended their tenure.

They haven’t had too much time to reminisce, as they’re preparing to relocate to Washington, D.C., where Campo will become the CEO of the Museum of the Bible starting June 17. When they have, though, one word keeps coming up – gratitude.

“Karen and I wanted to make sure we always tried to lead with gratitude and that’s the way we’re leaving. (It’s been an) unbelievable nine years. So grateful to the Board of Trustees, the faculty, staff and students here, the community, the alumni, we really have been blessed. This has been a remarkable time. Karen and I look back on our lives together, and Ashland certainly is among our greatest memories of our lives together,” he said.

Campus Beautification

2022

Lyceum Café

Deb Miller Softball Field at Archer Ballpark Complex

USA House

Clayton Hall Renovation

HOMECOMING 2023 RECAP

In addition to the traditional fun-filled activities, Ashland University’s Homecoming 2023 featured two ribbon-cutting ceremonies and the 99th Homecoming football game as thousands of alumni, families and friends came together to celebrate and reminisce.

Cool weather did not prevent a large gathering of AU military alumni and friends Saturday morning when the renovated USA House was officially dedicated. After the ribbon was cut, visitors were welcomed inside for a tour of the sparkling, refreshed residence. For details, see page 16.

Shortly after, more than a hundred AU Eagles assembled inside on the main floor of Archer Library to see the reveal of the Lyceum Café, a headliner of the recent campus beautification projects. Following the welcome speeches and ribbon cutting, Carlos Campo held his final President’s Coffee session in the modernized space. See page 14 for more information on the new café.

Other activities included the annual 5K Fun Run put on by the Department of Recreation and Wellness, a Coburn Gallery exhibition by alumna artist Jamie Dzuris Lindholm ’83, reunions for Ashbrook scholars and the marching band, and of course, everyone’s favorite: the Pizza Pizza Pizza Fan Fest.

Sunny skies turned gray and rainy right at kickoff of the football game, but the weather didn’t bother the Eagles and their fans. They used a strong rushing attack (210 yards, 3 TDs) to beat Lake Erie 31-19. The Storm made it a 10-7 score late in the second quarter, then Ashland answered with a touchdown with just 10 seconds left in the half and another touchdown on the first possession of the third quarter to break the game open at 24-7.

Those fans who endured the cold, wind and rain were rewarded with complementary food and music to cap off Saturday’s activities with the annual 5th Quarter Celebration at Upper Convo. Thank you to all who joined us and be on the lookout for details soon on the festivities surrounding the 100th Homecoming football game.

Trio of AU Grads Bonded as Mayors

Have you ever played the board game TriBond?

For those who haven’t, you have both a number and a category die.

Then you are given three items in the category you roll, such as Academics, and you have to guess what a trio of things all have in common. If you get it correct, you move ahead as many spaces as you rolled on the number die.

Let’s try one in Academics. What do Matt Miller, Jodie Perry and Bob Jarvis have in common?

No clue? They all attended Ashland University.

It might have been a little easier if those three names were listed in the Miscellaneous category. Then we would say they are all local mayors: Miller in Ashland, Perry in Mansfield and Jarvis in Lexington.

Keeping with a TriBond theme, let’s see what other common bonds these three AU grads/mayors have.

What do 1989, 1998 and 1999 have in common?

Those were the years Jarvis, Perry and Miller, respectively, received their AU degrees

Jarvis was working as an industrial engineer when he decided to attend Ashland for an MBA, which he said helped him become a general manager for a manufacturing company in Lexington.

“I love local government. I don’t have an interest of going to the next level. You can really impact peoples’ lives as a mayor.”

Jodie Perry, Mayor of the City of Mansfield

“I had nothing but a positive experience and have nothing but great things to say,” Jarvis said about his AU experience. “They had a lot of faculty who had practical experience in manufacturing and business.”

That practical experience and the flexibility to take evening classes (online classes weren’t a thing yet in the 1980s) were the two main reasons Jarvis said he chose Ashland for an MBA.

The Ashbrook program and wanting to attend college out of state were two of the reasons Perry, who grew up in the Rochester, N.Y. area, said she decided on Ashland University.

“I was a political science major, but I was not an Ashbrook Scholar,” Perry said, then added with a laugh: “I lovingly say I was an Ashbrook reject.

“The Ashbrook program was much different in the ’90s than it is now, in terms of scope and size,” she continued. “It was really small then. I still had all the same classes and much of the same opportunities.”

Some of those classes were with Miller, an Ashbrook Scholar who grew up in Jeromesville just outside of Ashland and also was a political science major.

“The only other university I looked at was Georgetown with its proximity to Washington, D.C.,” said Miller, who has been interested in being a politician since junior high and has spent most of his professional career in politics, not only as a mayor, but also an Ashland County commissioner and Ashland City Council member.

Director of human resources, chamber of commerce president, village council member

These were the positions Miller, Perry and Jarvis, respectively, had before becoming mayors.

After three failed attempts to become a U.S. representative in 2006, 2008 and 2010, a frustrated Miller said he prayed to the Lord that he wouldn’t have to go to another political event for a long time. At the time, he was working for the Salvation Army Kroc Center, which he did for three years before being appointed to the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), where he had an internship while at AU.

Miller said he got his answer when Gov. John Kasich appointed him to serve as the deputy director of business and human resources at ODOT.

“One of the first things that the governor told us was not to be involved in politics,” said Miller. “As fate would have it, I had prayed not to do political events, and now I had a reason to take a break.

“Somehow over the years, I became interested in politics again,” added Miller, who was with ODOT for seven years until he was elected to Ashland City Council and then mayor.

For almost 10 years before becoming Mansfield’s second female mayor this year, Perry served as the Richland Area Chamber & Economic president. She said that job helped her get to know Mansfield and prepared her to be its mayor, which she just started in January.

“They elected me their mayor and I have only lived here 9½ years,” said an appreciative Perry, who also worked for chambers of commerce in Ashland and Van Wert in Ohio and a suburb of Rochester, N.Y. “That shows they welcomed me into their community and I was committed enough to get involved.”

Jarvis also just became mayor in January. Like Perry, he came into the position with quite a bit of knowledge of the position’s ins and outs, having been a village council member for the 17 years prior.

“I really like the group we have leading the village and I wanted the opportunity to lead them,” Jarvis said about why he decided to run for the part-time mayor position in his retirement. “We have great plans for the village.”

Leverage Lexington, Mansfield Main Street, Ashland Pump House District

These are some of the “great plans” that have the three mayors excited.

A possible connector road, improvements to downtown and more space for light industrial and residential are some of the hopes of Leverage Lexington, the long-range plan for the village, Jarvis said.

Applying for grants and working for other sources of funds for Leverage Lexington has been what Jarvis said he has been doing for most his first months as mayor.

It has been the same for Perry.

“I really want the city to be more aggressive of going after money,” she said. “I think we’re leaving it on the table just because we haven’t focused on that for a long time – not ever, but it has been a while.”

Mansfield’s $14 million Main Street streetscape project, which will start in 2025 and take about a year and includes the Richland Chamber and other agencies, has 14 sources of funding, so the city will only need to spend about $2 million for it, Perry said.

As mayor since 2018, Miller already has worked hard to find money to improve Ashland, and he has been proud of what has been accomplished so far.

“The thing that probably means the most to me would be the fact that I hear so many people talking positive about our city and speaking with pride about being Ashlanders,” he said.

Ashland, Lexington, Mansfield

Residents of these communities are the winners of this TriBond game, having the three AU grads as mayors and having them interested in running for reelection when their terms are up so they can continue to serve their communities.

“If I had to make a decision now, I would run for reelection,” said Miller, whose current term ends in 2025.

“If I’m doing a good job and people want me to run again, I will certainly consider it,” Jarvis said. Then with a laugh added: “Hopefully, I’m successful and I don’t screw anything up.”

“Assuming I’m reelected, I would like to stay with this as long as I can,” Perry said. “I love local government. I don’t have an interest of going to the next level. You can really impact peoples’ lives as a mayor.”

Jarred Opatz Content Writer

Yad Vashem Partnership Brings One-of-a-Kind Opportunity

Jewish scholars’ visit educates AU community on Holocaust, dangers of antisemitism

Ashland University students, faculty and staff and the Ashland community were presented with a unique opportunity this February – to learn about the Holocaust, the history of the Jewish people and the modern threats of antisemitism from two Jewish visiting scholars. The visit was part of a formal partnership between AU and Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem.

Yossi Kugler, Ph.D., a researcher at Yad Vashem, and Sarah Levy, a program coordinator of Echoes & Reflections, spent their time in Ohio connecting with and reaching out to various groups. Their messages and motivations were similar, as Levy put it “to educate, educate, educate” about the dangers of hate.

Kugler, whose doctorate focused on the attitudes of Israelis about antisemitism over the years, taught a two-week, one-credit political science seminar course, “The Holocaust,” to interested AU students, offered a public lecture to a packed space in Upper Convo and was invited to speak at the Ohio History Center in Columbus.

Kugler, along with AU President Carlos Campo and other university leaders, also spent a couple of hours with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine at the governor’s residence on Feb. 15. Campo noted it was an occasion “to celebrate AU’s response … and commitment to freedom of expression” to Gov. DeWine’s letter urging the state’s university presidents to address antisemitism on campuses back in 2021.

“We will keep on hammering on this message till our last days to try and create a safer world for everyone, for people to be able to exhibit their own thoughts and their own lifestyles, as long as it’s respectful to others.”

Sarah Levy, program coordinator of Echoes & Reflections

To be clear, there have been no incidents of antisemitism at AU; the Yad Vashem partnership is an initiative to bring awareness of the Holocaust and antisemitism at large.

Levy’s work with Echoes & Reflections trains elementary and middle school teachers on how to teach young students about the Holocaust. She utilized that expertise in leading a series of seminars for AU education students, area educators and students from Ashland High School and Norwalk High School. She also presented to the Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust & Humanity Center in Cincinnati and the Maltz Museum in Cleveland.

Helping to coordinate the hands-on seminars with educators was AU faculty member Terri Jewett, who had the opportunity to visit Yad Vashem last June as part of the partnership. She was overjoyed by her visit to the Holy

Land and thrilled to bring back innovative ideas to her pre-service teacher education students, one being to relate the challenging topic of the Holocaust to concepts such as “heroism, resilience, loss and empathy.”

“Yad Vashem teaches us, with all children no matter the age, (to) bring them safely into the conversation and lead them safely out of the conversation. That was really impactful,” explained Jewett, a professional instructor in the College of Education.

While AU’s partnership with Yad Vashem has been in the works since 2020, the timing for the programming could not have worked out better. The unprovoked Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, and the ongoing war there, has been followed by a rise in antisemitism in the U.S. and throughout the world. The AntiDefamation League reported more than 2,000 antisemitic incidents from Oct. 7-Dec. 7, an increase of 337% from the same period in 2022.

“The massacre of Oct. 7 was accompanied by a huge wave of antisemitism that (the) world has not seen maybe since the Holocaust,” remarked Kugler.

To combat antisemitism, Kugler and Levy agree the key is giving students the will to learn about it.

“I always say, one student at a time, one classroom at a time, one school at a time,” said Levy, a granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor. “We will keep on hammering on this message till our last days to try and create a safer world for everyone, for people to be able to exhibit their own thoughts and their own lifestyles, as long as it’s respectful to others.”

While their two-week visits were brief, Kugler and Levy were both grateful to AU for allowing them to educate the campus and local community.

Kugler remarked, “Thank (you) for all the hospitality here. The connection between the university and Yad Vashem is very important … hope this is the beginning of a meaningful connection between the two institutions.”

“To be here is just an incredible honor and privilege to be welcomed so wonderfully by all of you… and to know you also have this commitment because this affects everyone on the planet. This world is going through a very dangerous path. We’re allowing certain voices to speak up very loudly where the silent majority is perhaps not speaking up loud enough. This relationship is incredibly important and we salute you really for being this flagship,” added Levy.

AU was able to welcome these visiting scholars, thanks to the support of Jason Lieberman ’00 and Jim Smail, a member of the AU Board of Trustees. Lieberman, a Jew, and Smail, a Christian, joined forces for this cause. Despite practicing different religions and being about 30 years apart in age, they developed a bond over a shared vision.

For Lieberman, a vice president/financial advisor and portfolio manager for Morgan Stanley in Boca Raton, Fla., the cause is deeply personal. His grandfather came to the U.S. after nearly all of his

family perished during the Holocaust, and when Lieberman made his way to AU in the late 1990s he found few resources for Jewish students like himself. “I lost that part of my life,” he recalled, and now he wants to help “create a better experience.”

For Smail, the cause is personal in a different way. He always has been a “firm believer in the Bible text that the Jewish people are God’s own people,” and he also feels indebted to a Jewish family that took him “in as one of their own” at the onset of what became his remarkably successful career. By backing this cause Smail “will honor them and their faith in a very small way.”

When Lieberman and Smail woke up to the news of the Oct. 7 attacks, their perspectives and urgency changed. Lieberman, who was vacationing internationally at the time, admitted to a “different level of fear than I’ve felt in my life,” while Smail knew this was the perfect time to act.

“It’s so timely. What better time for (the scholars) to come in to (educate) our students and anybody else that’s interested on the horrendous persecution that the Jewish people have gone through for centuries… to bring awareness of what happened on Oct. 7 and what the long-term ramifications of that could be … to start a program of educating and uniting Christian students and Jewish students,” said Smail.

Lieberman agreed that bringing awareness is paramount, especially to today’s students, many of whom weren’t even born until 60 years after the Holocaust ended.

“Lack of understanding and lack of awareness is something I experienced (25-30 years ago). The Holocaust seems surreal, almost something that didn’t happen. If I could help students become aware of this, so that something like this never happens again, that would be the significance to me. This isn’t a Jewish thing, it’s a humanitytype thing,” he said.

Hugh Howard Media Relations | Social Media Manager

Sarah Levy (left) worked with AU faculty member Terri Jewett (right) to present seminars for AU education students, area educators and students on how to bring sensitive topics like the Holocaust into the classroom.

Ashland University’s stunning new Lyceum Café, with its 1,500 square feet of glass, stands out at nighttime on the main campus.

LYCEUM CAFÉ A NEW CENTERPIECE OF THE AU CAMPUS

One of the highlights of 2023 at Ashland University was the opening of the Lyceum Café, a new centerpiece on the AU main campus where students, faculty, staff and the Ashland community have been gathering for meetings, fellowship, study time and delicious food and drinks since its October opening.

Located on the completely renovated main floor of the Archer Library, the Lyceum Café is 2,075 square feet of dazzling, inviting space and complements the student support resources in place. The floor also contains the Writing and Communication Center, the IT student help desk, a flexible learning space/conference room, new furnishings and technological resources.

“What we have here is renewed, kind of a re-nourishment of what a library should be in this day and age,” remarked AU Provost Amiel Jarstfer during the dedication ceremony. “We are absolutely thrilled to have this space.”

AU President Carlos Campo reflected on the Lyceum Café being the latest example of the university’s commitment to exceptional quality. “When I think about this project and what it will mean, we want to draw people in … the first look that people get is walking into this space and then the promise of excellence is played out in all that we do. It’s how our faculty connect with students and push them to be better, to be more excellent in all that they do and all that they think,” he said.

The distinct features of the Lyceum Café include the natural light that flows in and the eye-catching view that overlooks College Avenue. An atrium consisting of 1,500 square feet of glass makes the space feel bright, open and welcoming.

Adding to the modern look is locally-sourced Amish wood and quartz-topped cast iron furniture. The credit for the highly-praised aesthetic vision goes to Karen Campo, wife of Carlos Campo, as she selected the color scheme, the accent lighting, the flooring, the stylish furnishings and decor.

Based on the initial reaction, the Lyceum Café appears well on its way to being a major success. One alum, Harold “Bud” Boughton ’73, joked “If this were here when I was a student, I never would have gone to class.” Rob Pool, vice president for student affairs and auxiliary services, noted that “admission tour guides are gobsmacked” and “students are thrilled.”

The Lyceum Café, one of the last in a series of current campus beautification projects that have taken place over the last 18 months, was made possible by $1.6 million from Dwight ’64 and Martha Schar. Construction started in April and was completed in just about six months.

“When we talked to Dwight and Martha Schar about campus improvement, we talked about several of these elements of the master plan, and Dwight said ‘put them in some sort of priority,’” recalled Carlos Campo. “This (the Lyceum Café) was our No. 1 priority.”

INAUGURAL TEDXASHLAND UNIVERSITY HOPES “SPARKING CONNECTIONS” CONTINUES

“Keep sparking connections,” Elise Riggle ’99 said at the close of the Feb. 13 TEDxAshland University, titled “Sparking Connections.” Riggle is the director of AU’s Center for Innovation & Teaching Excellence and organizer of the inaugural TEDx event.

TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and now there are 3,000 independently organized TED talks every year across 170 countries, according to TEDx Corp., a nonprofit, nonpartisan foundation.

“Sparking Connections” was not just a theme of TEDxAshland University, it was a call to action. Eight speakers, who ranged from AU students and professors to professionals, each expounded on that idea. Here is a sampling:

4 Deleasa Randall-Griffiths, AU professor of communication studies, encouraged the audience to tell their family stories. “Go out, ask the questions, gather those stories, jot down notes. It’s the best way to spark a connection heart to heart in your family.”

4 Maksym Poliansky, one of AU’s Ukrainian Freedom Scholars, spoke about compassion. “Compassion is for everyone, and it’s about being curious, being an active listener and moreover, to volunteer in order to understand someone or something better.”

4 Cicely Wilson, an adjunct professor for Correctional Education,

compared education to her favorite firework: a sparkler. “For those of you who are unsure about the next chapter in your life … take a class. Light that sparkler and see what ignites.”

4 Katelynn Meeks, a student at AU, took a unique approach in turning a struggle into a spark. “Struggling is a thing you do not want, but is a thing you need. When you’re struggling with something in life, there are always people there for you.”

4 Michael Gershe ’92, an AU alum, comedian and inspirational speaker, offered the importance of reaching out to one’s lifetime of connections. “No one is a burden to anyone. If you’re feeling grief, or trauma or depression, it’s very important we don’t lose sight of who we are: the values, the morals, the things our family and friends taught us.”

4 Jennifer Wininger, the director of AU’s International Student Service program, emphasized courage and stepping out of a comfort zone. “If we are willing to break out of the bubbles that we surround ourselves with, supposedly for our own protection, and reach out to somebody who is different than us, we may find that it’s not as scary as we imagine it is. It may turn out that the most frightening of relationships will turn out to be a friendly face come to give you the best gift of your life.”

AU ALUMNUS ONE OF THREE TO EARN HONOR FROM MATHEMATICAL ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA

Abraham Edwards, a 2005 graduate of AU and currently a faculty member at Michigan State University, was one of three recipients nationwide of the Mathematical Association of America’s 2023 Henry L. Alder Award for Distinguished Teaching. The prestigious honor goes to “beginning college or university faculty whose teaching has been extraordinarily successful and whose effectiveness in teaching undergraduate mathematics is shown to have influence beyond their classrooms,” according to the MAA website.

Edwards is a professor at MSU’s Lyman Briggs College teaching a variety of math courses, ranging from college algebra, to the calculus sequence, to statistics for scientists, to an honors research seminar in experimental mathematics. He also guides interdisciplinary courses, such as “Proof! A History of Certainty in Mathematics and Science,” “Quest for the Sublime: Mathematics, Poetry, and the Romantic Age” and “Mathematics in Cultural and Historical Contexts.” In addition, he has mentored multiple student research projects, including two that led to publications co-authored with students.

Beyond the classroom, Edwards contributes to the National Science Foundation-funded TRIUMPHS group (Transforming Instruction in Undergraduate Mathematics via Primary Historical Sources) and leads a popular MAA MathFest workshop, titled “Learning from History: Teaching with Primary Source Projects in Your Mathematics Classroom.”

Edwards, who earned a Ph.D. in mathematics education from MSU in 2016, credits his successful career path, in part, to his days as an undergraduate.

“What really struck me was how much the math faculty (at AU) seemed to enjoy teaching. I think that was what really got me thinking about a career related to mathematics teaching,” he recalled.

Edwards also appreciated the personal attention and support that Ashland prides itself on.

“I was able to study mathematics in small classes, taught by expert professors. This created an atmosphere in which learning was enjoyable and I felt supported in my academic journey. I wasn’t the best math student, not by a longshot. But, that’s what’s great about a college like Ashland. The faculty are willing to meet students where they’re at, and it put me on a trajectory to succeed in graduate school and in academia,” he said.

RENOVATED USA HOUSE

A $375,000 renovation has transformed the USA House into a popular residence for militaryaffiliated students.

“FEELS LIKE A HOME NOW” FOR MILITARY-CONNECTED STUDENTS

“It really feels like a home now,” AU senior John McCabe said of the thoroughly renovated, 9,000-square foot USA House, following an official dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony that was one of the highlights of Homecoming weekend.

For McCabe, an Air Force veteran majoring in business management with a minor in entrepreneurship, this marks the third year he’s been living in the USA House, an on-campus residence only available for those AU students with a military affiliation. But, it’s the first year he has felt at home.

“It (now) feels like a place where you can relax in the living room and it doesn’t feel like you’re going to the same school that people went to in the 1980s. It’s kind of like an apartment, rather than a dorm room,” said McCabe. “Every room is full. We have two living rooms with updated furniture. Everything looks aesthetically pleasing, like it belongs. Everyone (is) happy.”

That is the type of reaction AU administrators, alumni and donors were hoping for when they embarked on this completely donorfunded project.

As Deborah Liebert ’72 Karl, one of the lead donors, explained it, the committee went from providing USA House residents a few new items, such as “dishes, a sweeper and a basketball,” to quickly determining a “complete renovation” was needed.

The Georgian colonial home was built in 1968, along with the other residences that make up fraternity circle. Don Jakeway ’70 was on the original design committee and he was thrilled to be able to play an integral role in giving it a much-needed refresh 55 years later.

Jakeway labeled the legacy project as “a labor of love.” At the dedication ceremony, he told the crowd of alumni and other

supporters on hand, “There’s a lot of pieces of our hearts that are on this campus. We owe this university a lot. Anytime we have the opportunity to come back here, say our thanks and our blessings for what we did have here then and now, is truly a special blessing.”

In addition to Karl and Jakeway and their late spouses, Ronald Karl and Alice Jakeway ’71, the lead donors to the USA House renovation consisted of Evelyn M. Liebert, Paul McKnight ’70 and Lani McKnight ‘68, and Brooks Hull ’70 and Terry Gimmelli.

The new features of the USA House include 18 single-occupancy rooms with air conditioning and individual temperature control, five private occupancy bathrooms, LED lighting, fresh paint and flooring throughout, roof replacement, landscaping and concrete porch repair, a back patio and privacy fence and furnished common areas.

Randy Spade, executive director of admissions and a key driver behind the project, noted the renovations to the USA House are the latest example of AU’s long-running pledge to support military and veteran students.

“This house is more than a home. It is symbolic of the university’s commitment to those men and women who have served our country bravely and their families,” he explained. “My team has the distinct honor every time we welcome (a military) family to campus… those veteran parents know there’s a place for their children here that will keep them safe, will help them be successful and will help them be the best versions of themselves.”

NEW HOMESCHOOL AND CLASSICAL LEARNING CENTER IS THRIVING

A new initiative — the Homeschool and Classical Learning Center — is already gaining significant interest. Officially opened in the old Vines Bakery building on Dec. 15, the HCLC is providing services in support of a growing community.

The initiative was driven by the increased demand of families interested in transitioning from home education to higher education, according to Keith Ramsdell, vice president of enrollment management and marketing at AU.

“Over the last 8-10 years, there has been a significant increase in families interested in and making the choice to homeschool their kids or move them into classical education settings. That was accelerated even more during (the pandemic),” Ramsdell said. “Data continues to show the vast majority of jobs will require a college degree, (so) we want people in these communities to know that we are friendly and supportive to students who come out of those types of educational environments.”

The center, geared toward students in grades 7-12, offers a variety of services. There is a library of resources and curricula that can be checked out, personal tutoring opportunities and workshops, all in a place where similar students can connect with one another.

Theresa Watson, coordinator of AU’s Homeschool and Classical Learning Programs, has a series of events planned, from weekly book clubs, recreational opportunities and poetry workshops to a Homeschool Conference on March 15.

Watson, who home schooled her five daughters and previously was a program director at the Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, has additional ideas to enhance the center’s offerings and is thrilled at the opportunity to help build a bridge between homeschool and higher education.

YVONNE GLASS NAMED EXECUTIVE DEAN

O F ASHLAND THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Yvonne Glass, Ph.D., LPCC-S has been selected to lead the Ashland Theological Seminary, a graduate division of AU, as its executive dean. Glass had been serving as the interim dean of ATS.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to express my excitement to have Dr. Glass move into this important leadership role for the Ashland Theological Seminary. We have been blessed by her leadership as the interim dean, and look forward to how God will bless our seminary under her continued leadership,” said Jim Hess, chair of the AU Board of Trustees.

Glass has been the director of the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling program and part of the ATS faculty since 2018. She possesses almost 20 years of clinical experience in various settings, including a school system, private practice and professional advocacy. She believes in incorporating faith into the counseling experience and her studies examine how religiosity positively impacts the daily stressors of life.

“Dr. Glass has proven herself as a compassionate, visionary leader,” stated AU President Carlos Campo. “Her experience, integrity and collaborative, godly approach will help our seminary continue to have a positive impact on the world.”

Glass has experience in counseling children and adolescents, marriage counseling, case conceptualization, supervision, ethics, multicultural counseling, group counseling and diagnosis. She has collaborated with law enforcement, school administration, educators, medical professionals and social service agencies to provide the best possible care for clients.

Glass’ vision for ATS is to continue its legacy of being a place where people begin to answer their call as they learn and also a place of community and a key partner in their spiritual formation. She wants to prepare students to advocate for mental health as a vital component in the success of our society.

“I am humbled, honored and excited to steward ATS as it equips modern-day disciples to become the next generation of Christian leaders,” Glass said about her appointment.

AU AWARDED $840,000 IN GRANTS THROUGH CHOOSE OHIO FIRST PROGRAM

The Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE) awarded AU a grant of $840,000 through the Choose Ohio First (COF) program. COF is an initiative to develop and strengthen the state’s workforce in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

“Ashland University has played a vital role in preparing STEM students for successful careers in Ohio, and I am pleased to have Ashland University among this latest group of Choose Ohio First awardees,” stated Randy Gardner, chancellor of the ODHE.

This funding round will go to scholarships for students in AU’s College of Business and Economics (COBE) over the next five years. Specific academic programs to be impacted include management information systems, business analytics, industrial and systems engineering and supply chain management.

“We are thrilled that several of our programs in COBE will receive this funding from Choose Ohio First. This will make attending college possible for many of our students and supports their passion for the STEM disciplines,” said Dan Fox, dean of COBE and an associate professor. “Most of our graduates stay in Ohio and contribute to the state’s economy, and we’re appreciative of the government’s continued support for our students.”

This marks the fifth round of grants for the COF program under the Gov. Mike DeWine-Lt. Gov. Jon Husted administration and creates new scholarship opportunities at 45 colleges and universities across Ohio. The $840,000 for Ashland raises its total allocation through COF to about $2.7 million, with previous COF funding benefitting students in the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

COF AWARD HELPING INDUSTRIAL AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING STUDENT

Like many Ashland University students, freshman Mamady Dabo chose AU for the small classes and more “personal” relationships with professors.

Dabo also picked Ashland for its new industrial and systems engineering program, which started with the Fall 2023 Semester.

“I have not taken any engineering classes yet, but I do like the welcomeness and the people working in the program,” said Dabo, a graduate of Westland High School in the Columbus area who added that he’s looking forward to gaining and developing the engineering skills through AU’s program “to pave the way to my future.”

This new bachelor’s program, which is housed in the Dauch College of Business and Economics (COBE), had been in development for almost two years before enrolling students last semester.

Dabo said he is receiving financial assistance from the Choose Ohio First funding that was awarded to AU.

The demand for industrial and systems engineers has been growing.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of industrial engineers is projected to grow 10% through 2031, faster than the average for all occupations, with about 22,400 openings for industrial engineers projected each year and an average salary of $96,350.

So far, Dabo said he is happy with how AU is leading him toward a well-paying job.

“There are engineers for almost every field of work, and the school holds career fairs that have already gotten me in contact with companies for internships,” he said.

ASHLAND UNIVERSITY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

Award Winners

Join us on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 4 p.m. for our annual awards ceremony honoring six outstanding alumni award recipients. The event will be held in the John C. Myers Convocation Center on the AU campus. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, visit www.ashland.edu/2024-alumni-awards or call 419-289-5040.

For more information, contact the Office of Alumni Engagement at alumni@ashland.edu or 419-289-5040.

Dawn Menear Swit ’92, ’08 MBA Outstanding Alumna Award

Kristen B. Hovsepian Professor Raymond W. Bixler Award

JoAnn Ford Watson, Ph.D. Glenn L. Clayton Award

William Danuloff ’80, ’83 MBA Special Achievement Award

Lani Hum McKnight ’68 Distinguished Service Award

Mary Brown ’13 Young Alumna Award

Do you know a graduate or friend of the university who is deserving of an alumni award? Please complete a nomination form by visiting www.ashland.edu and clicking on the Alumni link.

Mark and Judy Rudiger, the executors of Gay Whieldon’s will, presented AU President Carlos Campo and the head coaches of the women’s athletic teams with an extraordinary gift in December.

WHIELDON WOMEN’S ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIP ESTABLISHED

AU President Carlos Campo announced the largest bequest in the university’s history – a high seven-figure gift established as the Gay Whieldon Women’s Athletic Scholarship Fund. The fund will provide scholarships for female student-athletes who participate in AU interscholastic sports.

“One of the things that Gay did was she started investing in Ashland University, unbeknownst to all of us,” Campo said. “She had already made plans in her estate that when she passed, she was going to bless our women’s athletics programs. What Gay has done is she has created an endowment that is very specific – it will only be for women’s athletics scholarships.”

“When I was told about this gift, I was speechless,” said Al King, director of athletics. “I’m still astounded by it. It’s unheard of and it’s going to present a wide number of opportunities for our female student-athletes. It’s going to help take us to a level in several sports we’ve only dreamed about.

“Gay obviously understood the importance of scholarships and what this could mean for our department. She was a pioneer for this university and women’s athletics, and the love she had for Ashland is demonstrated here. What an incredible statement.”

Ashland recently received the first distributions of the gift, a total of $2 million.

Whieldon was a 1966 and 1983 graduate of Ashland College. In 1966, she earned a bachelor’s degree in education, majoring in

health education and physical education, and in 1983, a bachelor’s in business management.

Whieldon spent a majority of her career teaching physical education and coaching women’s college sports, including swimming, soccer and field hockey. As the Eagles’ head women’s field hockey coach from 1977-80, she led the team to the second round of state tournament play in 1979.

In 1977-78, Whieldon, while serving as the first woman at Ashland College to have the published title of associate athletic director, was the tournament director for the Ohio Association of Intercollegiate Sports for Women State Basketball Tournament at Kates Gym.

Whieldon was later appointed the athletic director at Castleton State College in Castleton, Vt. She selflessly gave up her promising career to care for her elderly mother.

Ashland University did not know about her intentions because she was a very private person, and only found out after her death in 2023 at age 78. Her exact reasons for this transformational gift may never be known, but it is assumed that Whieldon loved her time at Ashland College, as a student and later as a faculty member.

Whieldon was single and never had children of her own. Now, Ashland University women’s athletes and the future scholarship recipients are part of her legacy. This generous gift will change the landscape for future women’s athletic teams at Ashland.

FALL SPORTS WRAP-UP

FOOTBALL – A 1-3 start turned into a 9-3 ending for Eagle football in 2023, as an eight-game winning streak was punctuated with a 23-20 win over McKendree in the America’s Crossroads Bowl. The win streak marks the program’s longest since 2017 (11 games), and it will be the second-longest in Div. II when the 2024 season begins, behind only 2023 national champion Harding (19 games). Senior left guard Nehemiah Cannon and senior linebacker Jackson Myers led the way, each receiving honorable mention All-American status from the Don Hansen Football Committee.

MEN’S SOCCER – The Eagles went 7-9-4 overall and 6-4-4 in the Great Midwest in 2023, qualifying for the league tournament and reaching the semifinals. Senior midfielder Vander Rocha earned the program’s first D2CCA All-American honor (second-team) in 15 years.

CROSS COUNTRY – Ashland’s women and men finished 21st and 22nd, respectively, in a personal-best-filled NCAA Div. II Midwest Region meet in November, and both teams were eighth at the 2023 Great Midwest Championships in October. Sophomore Michael Snopik finished 19th at the league meet, becoming the first AU men’s runner to earn All-Great Midwest honors.

ESPORTS – All of Ashland’s esports teams began their seasons in the fall, with the Overwatch 2 varsity team taking second place at the Mid-America Gamers Expo 2023 collegiate tournament in September in Iowa.

WOMEN’S SOCCER’S NO. 1 RANKING, TOURNAMENT RUN HIGHLIGHTS 2023 FALL SEASON

Ashland University’s women’s soccer team put together one of the best seasons in program history in 2023, capturing the imagination of the student-athletes, parents, fans and alumni alike.

The Eagles finished the fall with an overall record of 19-1-4, including 11-0-3 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Ashland won two home NCAA Div. II postseason games at Ferguson Field, tied the program record for wins in a season and earned 19 shutouts in 24 games. Only the 1998 Eagles went further in the postseason (D-II Final Four) than the 2023 edition did.

During the season, for the first time in program history, the Eagles were the top-ranked team in the country in the United Soccer Coaches top 25 poll, and were so for six weeks. AU finished the campaign at No. 10 in the nation.

Three Ashland players earned All-American status from the Division II Conference Commissioners Association after the season ended – senior goalkeeper Mackenzie Simon (first-team), junior defender Julianna Williams (second-team) and junior midfielder Merrik Mihalek (third-team).

1971

Ann (Freedlander ’71) Hunt shares that her latest book is available, “Were the Fifties Really Fabulous?” The book is a historical nonfiction that explores that decade. You will reminisce, learn, laugh and cry as you read about the Korean War, the Golden Age of Television, Presidents Truman and Eisenhower and much more. For more information, you may email Ann at aandbhunt@gmail.com.

1980

Mark Knox ’80 published his second book under the name M. Graham Knox, entitled “ORDO: the ‘ordo salutis’ for everyone.” The book is a theological treatise on the reformed order of salvation.

1981

After a 39-year career in economic development, Michael Anthony Jay ’81 retired on Feb. 29, 2024. Michael notes that it has been a pleasure returning to AU over the years to watch football games, and he looks forward to having time to catch even more games in the future.

1982

Thomas Cahill ’82 retired from full-time teaching at Tiffin Columbian High School in May 2022. Tom now works with Rieman Farms, Inc., as a seasonal equipment operator and truck driver.

1983

Theodore Roberts ’83 finally fulfilled a promise he made when he was 10 years old by completing visits to all seven continents! Ted spent a week in Antarctica in March of 2023 and even made a plug for Ashland; he doesn’t know if any penguins have applied. He is now retired and living in Napa Valley, Calif., working as a wine educator at Inglenook. “Retirement is the best! If you’re in the Napa Valley, drop in and say hello,” he says.

1984

Walter “Wally” Sexton ’84 says “Hey Bob, Paul, Jack, Rob and Guru, hope to see you on the tennis courts at this upcoming fall homecoming!”

1986

David C. Rotterman ’86, the CEO of PBS Western Reserve in Kent, Ohio, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023. David had just been appointed CEO in July. He was also an active deacon for the past 10 years at Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church in Lancaster, N.Y. He is survived by his wife, Dawn (Wooten ’86) Rotterman, and his two daughters, Madeline and Sr. Catherine Marie-Elizabeth.

Scott Armstrong ’86 M.Ed. shares that he recently completed a novel, entitled “The Dubious Professor.” The book is available on Kindle and printed versions on amazon.com.

1991

Aretta (Casebolt ’91) Baumgartner, teaching artist, puppeteer and arts administrator, has been named the 2024 Georgia Arts Education Association Museum Educator of the Year. Aretta serves as the education and advocacy director at the Center for Puppetry Arts, the largest

nonprofit in the U.S. devoted to celebrating puppetry, and is an active puppetry teacher and performer. This award celebrates Aretta’s efforts to lead the Center for Puppetry Arts’ activities toward outreach and accessibility, as well as all the organization’s educational initiatives that reach tens of thousands of students of all ages every year through workshops, master classes, lessons, presentations and residencies. Say “hi” to Aretta and/or connect with puppetry resources at arettabaumgartner@puppet.org.

1992

Hello, fellow class of ’92 graduates! Lisa (Hines ’92) Hanes and David Hanes ’92 have two daughters, Anna and Elizabeth (Lizy), who are current students at AU. Anna is a junior and Lizy a freshman. Lisa and David wish them good luck during this academic year.

1993

On Aug. 30, 2023, John Helmholdt, president of SeyferthPR, wrote: “On behalf of SeyferthPR, we are pleased to announce the promotion of Tyler Lecceadone ’93, APR and Karen Kirchenbauer, APR to the positions of senior vice president. Both Kirchenbauer and Lecceadone are part of the SeyferthPR management team and shareholders in the firm. Kirchenbauer and Lecceadone are the best in the business and we are proud to have them on our team. Their combined 30 years of hard work has exemplified true leadership and we consider them to be great role models for our firm.”

1994

Daniel W. Clark ’94 MBA recently received a Doctorate of Nursing Practice from the University of Pennsylvania in Executive Leadership, as well as a certificate from the Wharton School of Business as a graduate of the Wharton Nurse Leadership Program.

2003

Jeremy Bickelhaupt ’03 celebrated 20 years at Ottawa County Christian Academy in Oak Harbor, Ohio, as co-founder and headmaster.

2005

James Williams ’05 MBA was promoted to senior vice president, chief credit officer of Portage County Community Bank on Jan. 1, 2024.

2013

Karen (Dziurznyski ’13 M.A.) Cox shares that she has received the following honors: James Madison Senior Fellow, 2008; MAHG Ashbrook Center, 2013; American Revolution Institute, Master-Teacher Seminar participant, 2018, and guest instructor, 2020; Spanish-America conquistador Patriot ancestor, 2021; Daughters of the American Revolution New Mexico History Teacher of the Year, 2022; Albuquerque School Board Educator Recognition, 2022; American History Chair, Lew Wallace DAR chapter, Albuquerque, 2022-24.

2017

Nuri Lee ’17 graduated with an M.A. in Security Studies (International Security Studies) from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. She was selected as a finalist for the Class of 2023 Presidential Management Fellowship. Nuri also serves as a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves.

2021

Timothy Buchanan ’21 M.A. won an award as an adjunct professor at Madisonville Community College in Madisonville, Ky. Further, an article that Tim authored, “The Scintillating Enigma of Una Mae Carlisle,” was published in “The Syncopated Times” jazz periodical and can be read at syncopatedtimes.com. He also had a book of pop fiction published, “The Ten Tracks Mixtape Tasks.” The book may be ordered from Amazon.

Marriages/Anniversaries and Births

1980

On Jan. 1, 2023, Reid Firestone ’80, ’05 ATS, married Julie from Defiance, Ohio. They split their time between Ashland and Defiance and enjoy traveling.

1986

Mike Wooden ’86 married Lisa Greene ’84 on Sept. 23, 2022. They have three daughters and three grandchildren between them. Both currently reside in Jacksonville, Fla., and Ohio where Mike owns and operates a company. The couple re-connected in 2018 through Facebook.

2002

Michelle (Zinn ’02) Robinson shared that she was married in December 2023. Michelle also shared that they welcomed a daughter, Lea, in October 2023.

2008

Nicole (Sherman ’08, ’10 M.Ed.) Theim married Jake Thiem on Dec. 28, 2022.

2010

Christa (Pore ’10) White and husband, Daniel White, welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Lilah Anne White, on April 7, 2023.

2011

Lisa (Castelletti ’11) Cuffari was married on Oct. 28, 2023, in a suburb of Cleveland. Her new husband, Matt Cuffari, attended Ohio Northern University. The couple met while participating in a community theater production of “Beauty and The Beast” in the fall of 2016. Both enjoy music, theater, being season ticket holders at Playhouse Square, playing bocce and walking their pitbull, Doris. They reside in Mentor, Ohio, and are looking forward to what the future holds for them.

2014

Ashley Christman ’14 married Nathan Kirk ’14 on Sept. 30, 2023. A coin toss determined their hyphenated last name, Kirk-Christman. The wedding party included more than 20 alumni spanning various generations.

Kayla Ray Spinella ’14 and her husband, Adam, welcomed their first child, Meredith Ray Spinella, on Sept. 23, 2023.

2022

Jacob Moses ’22 and Erika Wright ’22 were married on June 9, 2023.

Betsy (Westlake ’76) Anderson

Kay (Foster ’77) Salzman

Robert S. Nemecek ’77

Maryl (Smith ’78) Hill

Linda (Werman ’78) Brawner

Eric W. Yocum ’82

Lawrence D. Baldwin ’84

David C. Rotterman ’85

Helen (Ricketts ’89, ’G91) Davis

Linda Jurasin ’90, ’G95

Helen (Bowers ’G91) Wright

Susan (Hackedorn ’91) Roberts

Diana Keating ’G91

Bonnie (Rowland ’91) Rickel

Beverly Smith ’G91

John Bryson ’93

In Memoriam

C. Franklin Karns, Ph.D. ’44

Charles R. Bartley Sr. ’49

Don L. Fought ’53

Herbert Rupp ’57

William Harner ’58

Larry Race ’58

V. John Bon ’59

John Meyer ’59

Harriet (Patterson ’61) Rush

Larry L. Gamertsfelder ’62

William H. Keifling ’62

James R. Albertson ’65

Donna M. Deane ’65

Curtis E. Hicks ’65

Peggy Kalfas ’N65

Paul Richey ’65

Stanley G. Briggs ’66

John D. Cover ’66

Charlotte (Guiher ’66)

Daugherty

Sandra (Luckie ’N66) Hornung

Patricia Richey ’N66

Robert Sedlack ’67

Thomas E. Williams ’67

L. Evelyn (Metcalf ’68, ’G79)

Younkin-Silver

Allen Fields ’69

LEONARD SALVO

Jeff Payton ’69

Jules D. Steinberg ’69

Cheryl (Brightbill ’70) Starner

Beverly (Coalmer ’71) Matzen

Terry R. Edwards ’71

Wanda P. Mish ’71

James A. Porterfield ’72

Larry D. Loder ’73

Mark Milmine ’73

Jacqueline (Kane ’75) Crew

Timothy L. Leitnaker ’75

Betty (Nestor ’75) Chase

Larry C. Gore ’76

Diana L. Scott ’76

Martha Farago ’G94

Frederick Seal Jr. ’94

Jeffrey Stewart ’95, ’G98

Charles Ferline ’G96

Gail (Frederick ’G96) Shreiner

Charles Shaffer ’G96

David Kennat ’G99

Elizabeth (Parsons ’G00) McMurtrie

Brian Laughery ’01

Virginia (DeMarco ’06) Ramseyer

Raechel Zorger ’17

Laura English ’G19

G – Graduate degree

N – Nursing degree

S – Seminary

Leonard Salvo, professor emeritus of music education and long-time director of bands at Ashland University, passed away after a brief illness on Jan. 15. He was 75.

A humble and caring teacher, expert conductor and genuine friend, Salvo served the university for more than a quarter of a century. He was director of bands from 1988 to 2014. During that time, the Eagle Marching Band grew from 17 members to 85, and he also established the Ashland Area Community Concert Band.

“He brought the band program from almost nothing to a thriving and robust group of ensembles, and founded the extremely popular Ashland Area Community Concert Band. Len will be deeply missed by many,” said Ron Blackley, director of choral activities at AU.

In addition to his work with all of the university’s various musical ensembles, Salvo taught courses in conducting and music education. He took on an active role in campus life and was recognized with an Outstanding Advisor for Student Organizations award.

Ensembles under Salvo’s direction received critical acclaim from some of the nation’s most respected composers and conductors, and he was twice elected to serve as president of the Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductors Association. He was a conductor, adjudicator and clinician throughout the Midwest, and served on staffs at various summer music clinics.

In 2013, Salvo was presented the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel by the State of Kentucky, and was celebrated during AU’s homecoming activities. Commissions of Kentucky Colonels are given to individuals in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation.

Originally from Marysville, Mich., Salvo held positions at Indiana State University and the University of Toledo before coming to Ashland.

A photo from the wedding of Ashley Christman ’14 and Nathan Kirk ’14 Front row: Christa Garcia, Tracy St. John Strahsburg ’12 ’15, Becca Hof Whited ’13, Elizabeth Waxter ’15, Ashley Kirk-Christman ’13, Nathan Kirk-Christman ’14, Zoe Escandon ’15, Lynda Romer ’13, Lindsay Cloud Karaoglan ’16, Barbara Huffman Bowman ’98 ’16, Alexis Smith Gunn ’09, ’13. Middle row: Wesley Washington ’12, Darren Kidd, Ryan Avery ’12, Brian McDermott, Lane Whited ’13, Michael Miller ’14, Ed Molnar ’06. Top row: Cory Lamar ’14, Guilherme Karaoglan ’14, Richard Jin Ben Gunn ’12, Katy Higaki ’13, Janel Crabiel Molnar ’04 ’06.

MARCH 21-22, 2024

SCAN THE QR CODE

below to join the AU community as we come together as ONE, through the power of philanthropy, to create, strengthen and sustain opportunities for our students. Contact the Annual Giving office, annualfund@ashland.edu or call 419-289-5457 to learn more about Ashland University’s 2024 Day of Giving.