Catherine A. Williams ‘18 never expected her journey through higher education to be so deeply rooted in a single place. But after eleven years at Ashland University—as a staff member, an alumna and now a senior leader—she knows Accent on the Individual isn’t just a motto. It’s a way of life.
Catherine first arrived at Ashland in 2014 after finishing graduate work at Kent State. A supervisor connected her to the university through her father, former athletic director Bill Goldring. What struck her immediately was the culture. “I’d been at a large university,” she says. “But I wanted a smaller community again. When I interviewed, the values of Ashland stood out—especially the idea of connection. That’s what brought me here. And that’s what’s kept me here.”
She began as a senior admissions representative for graduate, online and adult students. But she quickly discovered her passion: academic advising. She moved into leadership roles—Assistant Director, Director, then Executive Director of Student Success for graduate and online students. Today, she serves as Ashland’s Assistant Provost for Student Success, overseeing advising, tutoring, career and life calling, student success for correctional education and accessibility.
“We focus every day on being solutions-focused and student-centric,” she says. “Whether it’s meeting students where they are or redesigning systems, we’re always asking, how can we make this better?”
From field advising during lunch in convo to strategic planning, Catherine’s team does a bit of everything. What fuels her, though, are student transformations. She recalls one student athlete who struggled early on but later became a campus leader. “To see him go from uncertain to thriving—that’s why we do this. Students are capable. They just need someone to believe in them.”
Catherine knows this firsthand. She earned her MBA from Ashland in 2018 and initially felt out of place in business-focused courses. But faculty like Dr. Dan Fox and the late Dr. Ray Jacobs helped her see the relevance of business in higher ed. “They were the definition of Accent on the Individual. They took time, explained things and encouraged me to make connections I hadn’t seen before.”
She’s also been shaped by people who weren’t obligated to help her—but chose to. One such person was Dr. Khush Pittenger, professor emeritus in the College of Business and Economics. “At the time, I didn’t work in her college or take her classes,” Catherine says. “She just knew I was a young woman in higher education and asked me to lunch.” This simple invitation led to a lasting mentorship. “Without her living out Accent on the Individual—without even knowing me—I wouldn’t have the knowledge or grace I try to lead with today.”
Now, Catherine’s paying it forward. She teaches the Occupational Life Calling course, guiding deciding-students as they explore who they are and where they want to go. Through reflection, assessments and assignments like resume writing, she helps students connect values to action. “It’s not just about what you want to do,” she says. “It’s also about understanding what you don’t want to do—and who you want to be.”
Her contributions extend behind the scenes, too, including planning a presidential inauguration and onboarding a new university president. “These were things I never thought I’d do,” she says. “But Ashland keeps expanding what’s possible.”
Even now, she sees herself as a student. “I’m still learning every day—from colleagues, from students, from unexpected conversations. That’s the beauty of Ashland. It’s a community of shared growth.”
She also emphasizes the role donors and alumni play in making this work possible. Thanks to gifts from individuals like Bob and Jan Archer, and Paul and Lani McKnight, her team has introduced innovative tools and sent staff to national conferences. “Those gifts give us the capacity to take our care for students to the next level.”
When asked what she hopes her story will communicate, Catherine is clear. “Accent on the Individual isn’t just something we say—it’s something we live. I wouldn’t be where I am without the people at Ashland who lived it for me. And now, I get to pay that forward. That’s the kind of place this is.”
