Ashland University News Center

News Releases

Ashland University Added to OSCPA Program

Ashland University senior, Nick Kemmerle, has been selected to serve as the ambassador for the 2013-14 year.

The Ohio CPA Foundation, the charitable affiliate of The Ohio Society of CPAs (OSCPA), has expanded its successful Student Ambassador Program to include Ashland University.

Dr. Kris Parsons, chair of the department of accounting and information systems at Ashland University, said the Student Ambassador Program is built around the concept of peer-to-peer networking and counseling. The goal of the program is to encourage students to consider majoring in accounting and becoming CPAs by exposing them to the wide array of career opportunities in the CPA profession.

Ashland Area Chorus Begins Rehearsals

The Ashland Area Chorus, a non-auditioned mixed choir of about 60 singers, has announced its 2013 summer session. The rehearsal schedule begins on June 3 and continues for a total of four weeks, with the Chorus meeting on Monday nights from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Ashland University in the Center for the Arts (formerly the Arts and Humanities building), room 242.

They will perform a program of light, popular and patriotic tunes with the Ashland Symphony Orchestra on their concert at the Brookside Park Bandshell on Sunday, June 30.

Ashland University Honors Top Graduates

Ashland University paid tribute to its honor graduates at Spring Commencement 2013 on May 11 by honoring its three valedictorians in three very different fields of study and one salutatorian.

The three valedictorians were Jared Baisden and Angela Ellis, both of Wooster, and Holly James of Strongsville. All three achieved perfect 4.00 grade point averages. Heather Bumbalough of West Liberty was named the salutatorian.

Roger Beckett Named Executive Director of the Ashbrook Center

Roger L. Beckett has been named Executive Director of the Ashbrook Center at Ashland University, effective June 1.

Beckett, who is a 1996 graduate of Ashland University and the Ashbrook Scholar program, has held several positions at the Ashbrook Center. He currently serves as Deputy Director, where he oversees the operation of the Center’s programs and finances. Beckett also received a Master of Arts from The Ohio State University in 1997.

Alumnus Gives Advice to Ashland University Graduates

“Never forget that your family, your health and your friends are the most important priorities in your life” -- that was the advice alumnus Donald Jakeway presented to graduates during his commencement address at Ashland University’s Spring Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 11.

The commencement was held outside under cloudy skies at Jack Miller Stadium in the University’s Dwight Schar Athletic Complex.

Ashland University Employees Pass Training and Exam

Three Ashland University staff members -- Sheila Howard, Greg Butdorff and Andrew Anschutz -- participated in the Blackboard Transact Administrator Certification training and exam course earlier this month and passed the exam.

Blackboard is the company with which the Eagle Card Office works to run the campus ID system, which includes building access, meal swipes and vending machines.

Ashland Poetry Press Book Named as Finalist

One of Ashland University’s Ashland Poetry Press books, “The Rigid Body” by Gabriel Spera, has been named as one of three finalists in the 2013 Benjamin Franklin Awards Competition.

Sarah Wells, administrative director of the Master of Fine Arts program at Ashland University, said that Spera’s book, “The Rigid Body,” was selected as one of three finalists in the category of Poetry/Literary Criticism.

Ashland University Coburn Gallery Schedules Three Summer Art Sessions

The Coburn Art Gallery on the Ashland University campus has scheduled three summer art sessions -- Summer Art Camp and two separate Art Days -- that will allow for art experiences for young artists.

The Summer Art Camp will offer a one-week session June 24 to 28 from 9 a.m. to noon for young artists ages 7 to 13. The young artists will learn how to use a variety of media and experience activities in this jungle-themed art camp. They will develop a cultural appreciation and aesthetic awareness as they explore different art forms as well as develop their own talent for self-expression. The summer camp fee is $65 per child and all materials are provided.

Faculty/Student Collaboration Continues Post-Graduation

A section of the cover of Dr. Tiel's forthcoming book, "Faith & Reflection."

A collaboration between Dr. Jeffrey Tiel, associate professor of philosophy at Ashland University, and AU art student Joshua Risner, who graduated in 2012, has resulted in the two working together on two books published by Tiel.

Following the release of his supernatural thriller, “The Search for Melchizedek,” Tiel desired to give a more artistic touch to his first philosophy text, “Philosophy of Human Nature.” So he and Risner joined forces to display Risner’s painting, “Cleansing Presence,” on the cover of Tiel’s “Philosophy of Human Nature.”

MBA Graduate Named to List

David J. Hersher, a 2012 Ashland University MBA graduate, has been named one of ystark!’s Twenty Under 40! for the year 2013. In addition to being recognized on the ystark!’s website, the list of 20 winners ran in the Canton Repository and the Massillon Independent on March 27. The Repository will run a special section on the nominees later this month.

The list can be seen at: http://www.ystark.org/page/twenty-under-40-winners