Photo: Allison Waltz
ASHLAND, Ohio – Carlos Campo, the president of Ashland University since 2015, announced today that he has formally accepted a new leadership position and will be leaving AU. He will remain in his current role for the next nine to 12 months to allow the AU Board of Trustees to hire a new president. Details regarding Campo’s new position will be forthcoming.
“This is a bittersweet moment for Karen and me. We have been so blessed here in Ashland and have made numerous lifelong friends during our time here. We thank the many students, faculty, staff and community members who have supported us over these remarkable nine years,” said Campo.
The AU Board of Trustees will issue specific guidance regarding the search process for a new president in the weeks ahead. Jim Hess, chairman of the board, conveyed it hopes to have the new president in place by the spring of 2024.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to express my deep appreciation for Dr. Campo’s leadership and service to Ashland University,” stated Hess. “His 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 this commitment. He helped us complete the most successful comprehensive campaign in the history of the university and our campus has become a more amazing place.”
Hess continued, “As Dr. Campo transitions to his next position, we wish him the very best, and know that God will continue to use him to make all things around him better. We wish him and Karen the very best.”
During his nine years as president, Campo helped Ashland University achieve numerous milestones, including a successful reaccreditation, new program development, three successful rounds of state funding, the expansion of the Correctional Education program to become the nation’s largest, establishment of a new military and veterans resource center, and a $100 million comprehensive fundraising campaign (the largest in the university’s history) which included the creation of the Niss Athletic Center, a major campus beautification initiative, new academic programs and more.
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.