ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University and Ashland Theological Seminary will celebrate the inauguration of its new president, Jon Parrish Peede, on Friday, Oct. 25, at 3 p.m. The ceremony, which is open to the public, will take place inside Jack and Deb Miller Chapel. There will be a community reception at the Dauch College of Business and Economics following the inauguration at approximately 4:30 p.m.
For those unable to attend, a link to a live stream of the inauguration can be found at ashland.edu/inauguration-details.
Peede was named president of AU on March 27 and officially began his duties on June 1. He possesses more than 25 years in leadership positions in higher education and federal agencies, with his impressive credentials headlined by a term as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities (2017-21).
The traditional ceremony will begin with an installation processional featuring members of the AU Board of Trustees, faculty, distinguished guests and President Peede.
Presided over by Jim Hess, chair of the AU Board of Trustees, the inauguration will include greetings from Joan Stanbrook Sustarsic ’78, president of the alumni association; Aidan Nayak, president of AU Student Senate; and Gregory McBrayer, Ph.D., president of the faculty senate.
During the investiture portion of the ceremony, Rev. Yvonne Glass, Ph.D., executive dean of the Ashland Theological Seminary, will offer a prayer, then Hess and Joyce Lamb, vice chair of the AU Board of Trustees, will officially bestow Peede as president of the university.
Peede will respond with an inaugural address, in which he will highlight his vision for the future of the university.
Peter Slade, Ph.D., professor of religion, will provide the invocation; Amiel Jarstfer, Ph.D., provost of the university, will contribute a scripture reading; and Paul Overland, Ph.D., professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages, will give the benediction.
Musical performances will be provided by the AU Choir and the AU Brass Ensemble, conducted by Rowland Blackley and Joseph Lewis, Jr., respectively, while the ceremony’s organist is Luke Tegtmeier.
For more information, visit ashland.edu/presidential-inauguration.
Ashland University is a mid-sized, private university conveniently located a short distance from Akron, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio. Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.