Dr. Jon Parrish Peede
Dr. Jon Parrish Peede became president of Ashland University and Ashland Theological Seminary in June 2024. In his first year, the university achieved a multimillion-dollar budget surplus, grew its freshmen class, secured one of the largest fundraising totals in AU’s history and received its first federal arts grant in more than 60 years.
Previously, Dr. Peede served as chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities, where he managed a $237 million budget and awarded $500 million in federal grants, including more than $10 million to Ohio nonprofits. His career has focused on advancing education, the arts and civic dialogue, with a commitment to civil discourse and experiential learning opportunities.
A native of Mississippi, he holds degrees from Vanderbilt University, the University of Mississippi and Murray State University. He and his wife, Rev. Nancy Hollomon-Peede, live in Ashland.
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