AU looks to the future with $1 million Honors pledge, new strategic plan
ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland University began the 2026-27 academic year with a $1 million commitment to the growth of the AU Honors Program, a new five-year strategic plan and significant investments in the student experience.
Those developments were front and center during the university’s annual All-Institutional Meeting, where President Dr. Jon Parrish Peede welcomed faculty and staff back to campus, reflected on the progress made during the past year and looked ahead to the work that will shape AU’s future.
The meeting started out with an exciting announcement from Bob Archer, as the longtime member of the AU Board of Trustees helped set the tone for the year ahead by pledging $1 million to support the growth of the Honors Program.
“Bob and Jan Archer are an extraordinary blessing. They have consistently demonstrated their belief in Ashland University and we are deeply grateful for their continued investment in our students,” said Peede. “Our Honors Program has grown substantially in recent years, now serving 250 students across all four colleges. This generous gift will help us build on that momentum and provide even more talented students with the opportunity to thrive at Ashland.”
The Honors Program investment also reflects the university’s broader emphasis on creating transformative experiences for students, one of the three themes at the center of AU’s new strategic plan.
Presented by Shawn Orr, Ph.D., chief of staff, the new plan, “Ashland University: In Pursuit 2026-31,” establishes a framework for the university’s priorities over the next five years and is centered around three themes: transformative experiences, collaborative community and strategic growth.
The plan will consist of 10 initiatives, 35 goals and 110 metrics designed to guide and measure the university’s progress. Additional information will be shared in the coming weeks.
Those priorities come as AU continues a significant transformation of its physical campus. The All-Institutional Meeting included an update on the significant residence hall renovations that have been taking place.
With Amstutz Hall opening for 160 students, Andrews Hall welcoming students in 15 new rooms and Jacobs Hall scheduled to be ready for 60-plus students in late September, the project will provide students “a premier residence experience,” according to Rick Ewing, vice president of operations and planning. The renovated rooms will all include modern amenities such as keyless entry, private pod restrooms and air conditioning.
While the university looks ahead to its next chapter, the annual meeting also provided an opportunity to recognize the people who will help move that work forward.
Six employees were recognized for completing 25 years of service:
- Tracy Berkshire, lead baker
- Amy Clark ’08, director of planned giving
- Perry Corbin, Ph.D., professor of chemistry
- Rebecca Corbin, Ph.D., professor of chemistry
- Benjamin Kunkel ‘96, director of student programs at the Ashbrook Center
- Michelle Neville ‘95, chief human resources off
“On behalf of the entire AU community, I thank these individuals for their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence,” said Peede. “As we recognize them as individuals, we’re really recognizing the spirit of this campus and of this community.”
Clay Montgomery and Sheila Howard, two members of the information technology staff, were also honored.
Montgomery, the client support and A/V technician II for IT, emerged from monthly winners as the 2025-26 RISE (Recognizing Individuals for Service Excellence) award recipient. In his nomination, Montgomery was credited for “going above and beyond” and for a “positive attitude," while helping all areas of campus with various technology issues.
Howard, assistant director of enterprise applications for IT, was the recipient of the 2025-26 Dick Obrecht Award, given to staff members who exemplify the award’s namesake, a behind-the-scenes problem solver with an abundance mindset and a collaborative spirit. Howard was praised for her “commitment to improving processes” and “demonstrating a positive willingness to help others create new initiatives” in a nomination letter.
Together, the investments, strategic priorities and employee recognitions highlighted a university focused on building on its recent momentum while preparing for the opportunities ahead.