Find News

James Kaufman

AU graduate named chief commercial officer for global medical technology company

Ashland University has helped James Kaufman in many ways throughout his decades-long career. First, it allowed him the flexibility to take remote and night classes at the Ohio State University Marion campus and Marion Technical College for his bachelor’s degree while working full time in the 1980s. Then the training Kaufman received from its business administration and marketing programs was a valuable asset when expanding his expertise to include a medical…

Ruth Ann Pardo

Graduate courses at AU help student with science background 'think like a businessperson'

Ruth Ann Pardo has learned her leadership skills from a variety of sources, including Ashland University.     Pardo is working toward a master’s degree in business analytics through AU that she plans to complete by next spring.   She has three decades of experience in health care, which recently earned her a spot on the Marquis Who’s Who, which, according to a news release from Marquis publications, has chronicled for 125 years the lives of the most…

Katie Moon and Trevor Bassitt

Moon and Bassitt earn trips to Outdoor Worlds in Hungary

Katie Moon is used to winning championships, and another one came to fruition on Sunday (July 9) night in Eugene, Oregon.   Moon, the former Ashland University track and field NCAA Division II All-American who is the top-rated outdoor women's pole vaulter in the world, won the 2023 USATF Outdoor Championships title in the event on Sunday night with a new season-best and world-leading showing of 4.90 meters/16-feet-0¾.   This comes after Moon won the women's…

Valerie Zeno

Ashland University grad Valerie Zeno named principal for a rural Ohio school district

Growing up in the suburbs of Cleveland, Valerie Zeno wanted a college experience different than the one she had at Normandy High School in Parma. “When I visited AU, I saw an Amish buggy driving down the road and fell in love with the charm of Ashland,” Zeno said. “On my campus visit, everyone was welcoming and friendly, and it immediately felt like home.” That “small-town” experience has played a big part in Zeno’s career, including accepting her most…

Alex Beres

Lessons learned from AU lead Beres to job as Clinton County Port Authority director

A constant of human history, no matter the technological and moral advances, is that a decision in the real world is never made where you have all the information you need. This insight has been incredibly helpful to Alex Beres, a 2006 Ashland University graduate. “A great lesson from some of the courses I had at Ashland was that never was there a leader who acted with perfect knowledge,” Beres said. “I try not to approach any subject matter or decision to…

Shari Thomas

MBA graduate recognized in the Marquis Who’s Who

After several colleagues suggested she consider it, and carefully weighing the pros and cons, Shari Thomas enrolled in Ashland University’s MBA program. “I decided to enroll in the MBA program specifically because of the program’s flexibility and support of a work/life balance,” said Thomas who completed the program in 2002. “As a mother of two young children and working full time, I intentionally chose to attend one course, each semester, for four…

Chris Mather

MAHG grad named first site manager of Colorado historical site

Unlike many students who have gone through Ashland University’s Master of Arts in American History and Government program (MAHG), Chris Mather isn’t a social studies teacher. Mather works for the National Park Service (NPS). “While the MAHG program is generally focused toward secondary school social studies teachers, I believe this program can be a benefit to anyone who is involved with government functions, acts as a steward to our public resources or has a…

Geoff Halsey

AU graduate courses help longtime educator have a varied career, including his new director of administrative services job

Even though Geoff Halsey said he’s about five years away from retirement, the longtime educator plans to earn a doctorate degree before he retires. That’s because he said he loves learning and being in school settings. Some of the best of the many graduate courses the 52-year-old said he has taken throughout his education career were through Ashland University, where he earned his building principal license, as well as a master’s equivalency in educational…

Koffi Akakpo

Ashland University's Accent on the Individual motto guides MBA grad to new job as Kentucky State president

Koffi Akakpo was planning on attending Ohio State University for his Master of Business Administration degree, until he had a change of heart. “My human resources director, Pat Schell, recommended Ashland University,” said Akakpo, who was working full time at a company in Mansfield, Ohio, at the time. “When I looked into it, it had an MBA program with an executive strategic planning edge, and it was closer to home.” Akakpo said he is grateful he decided to…

Angela Chapman

Chapman, who earned a master's degree from AU, named superintendent of Columbus City Schools

Ashland University allowed Angela Chapman to take graduate courses while still working full time as an elementary teacher early in her education career. “My school district at the time, Cleveland Heights-University Heights, had a partnership with Ashland University,” said Chapman, who earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction in 2000 after two years of AU classes. “The partnership provided extension and outreach courses in our district after…

Contact Information