Impact Report
Celebrating the mission we pursue together.
A Letter from the President
This year’s Impact Report is a testament to the profound difference made possible by the extraordinary generosity of our alumni, parents, faculty, staff and friends. Thank you for investing in Ashland!
Your selfless philanthropy is a transformational force that fuels academic excellence, athletic success and mentor relationships. Your gifts help us to prepare virtuous leaders who not only excel in their professions but also serve their communities with compassion and integrity.
Over the past fiscal year, your impact has been evident across every corner of campus. Scholarships have opened doors to first-generation students. Campus improvements have enhanced the learning and living environment. Support for our athletic programs has helped student-athletes compete—and succeed—at the highest levels. And our alumni continue to lead by example, giving back through their time, talent and treasure.
Ashland has been changing young lives for nearly 150 years. With your help, we will continue to do so.
Rooted in our distinctive promise—“Accent on the Individual”—each philanthropic investment honors the unique potential of our students and creates an environment where they are known, supported and challenged to grow. Your generosity reinforces this identity, ensuring that Ashland remains a place where students are not just educated, but formed—academically, morally and spiritually.
Ashland is a proven leader in values-driven higher education. This means investing in faculty excellence, student success, career preparation and innovation. It means expanding our reach while deepening our impact. And it means staying true to the heart of who we are: a community where individual attention and transformational outcomes go hand in hand.
Thank you for believing in our mission and in the lives of Ashland students. As you read the stories and milestones within this report, know that each one is a direct result of your support.
Together, we are writing the next chapter in Ashland’s remarkable story—one defined by impact, guided by purpose and centered on the individual.
With deepest appreciation,
Dr. Jon Parrish Peede
President,
Ashland University and Ashland Theological Seminary
Fiscal Year Overview
June 1, 2024 - May 31, 2025
Contributions
Total: $22,825,680
Every gift sets something in motion. Behind each dollar is a student discovering their potential, a professor pursuing new ideas and a campus growing stronger. During the past fiscal year, your generosity, nearly $23 million in support, carried the shared mission of Ashland University and Ashland Theological Seminary forward, opening doors, sparking growth and preparing students to lead with purpose in the world.
Donor Spotlight: Why We Give
Ashland University became part of my life nearly sixty years ago, when I graduated from Bay Village High School in search of a place where I could grow and belong. What I found was more than a university—it was a community that shaped me.
This community came to life through Sigma Nu, where friendship became brotherhood. We looked out for one another then, and we still do today. Many of us continue to give together to the university that shaped us.
The same spirit of connection led me to stay involved with Ashland in new ways. In the mid-1980s, a conversation with an alumni director opened the door to years of service, first on the Alumni Board, then as president of the Alumni Association and later on the Board of Trustees for twenty-five years. During that time, I watched students arrive on campus unsure of themselves and leave four years later confident, capable and ready to lead. This kind of transformation is what defines Ashland, and why its mission is worth investing in.
My husband, Terry, and I have seen what that mission makes possible. Over the years, we’ve made significant investments in scholarships and helped transform my former fraternity house into housing for military-connected students, now the USA House. Each gift is a way to extend the care, opportunity and sense of belonging that changed our own lives. We have provided support for every Capital Campaign since the mid-1980s.
For us, philanthropy is about continuity, ensuring Ashland’s values live on through every student who learns here. We’ve learned that the true reward of giving isn’t what you receive, it’s knowing your support will continue to make a difference long after you’re gone. We hope every student shaped by generosity will carry it forward, extending Ashland’s impact and purpose far beyond this campus.
Brooks Hull ’70
& Terry Gimmellie
Access to Opportunity
Access creates motion. Every scholarship tells a story of potential set in motion by generosity. During the past fiscal year, philanthropic support for undergraduate students helped remove financial barriers so they could stay focused on their goals and pursue their purpose with confidence. These gifts remove barriers and empower first-generation and low-income students, who make up nearly one-third of our undergraduate community, to fully engage in all that an Ashland education makes possible.
“I’d say that my financial aid and scholarships are honestly the reason I am still in college. I’m the oldest child and the first person to have an in-person college experience. I have a big middle-class family, and even then, college would’ve been out of reach without the outside help I’ve received. If I met any donors who have contributed, I’d thank them and tell them how much being at college, especially at Ashland University, has completely changed my life. Before coming here, I would’ve never considered the field I’m in now or discovered how much I love it. I wouldn’t have had the leadership opportunities I’ve experienced and truly wouldn’t be the person I am today.”
Saylor Starkley
Hometown: Conesville, Ohio
Major: Criminal Justice
Class Year: Senior
Fuel for Innovation
Innovation begins with curiosity and takes shape through collaboration. During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, Ashland University was awarded $4.3 million in grant funding, and a portion of this supported faculty and students working side by side to turn ideas into impact. During this time, 44 faculty and staff partnered with 22 external organizations, giving students meaningful ways to apply their learning and contribute to real-world solutions. These grants strengthen academic excellence, deepen mentorship and reflect the confidence national partners have in Ashland’s ability to drive discovery and develop future leaders.
“What I love most is watching one student’s discovery spark another’s curiosity. That’s the ripple effect of research—it multiplies. They begin to see the connection between what they’re learning, what they can contribute and how it helps others. It’s not just about a single project. It’s about building a culture of learning and discovery that keeps moving forward.”
Dr. Cindy Perkovich
Assistant Professor of Biology
Building for the Future
Ashland’s endowment continues to strengthen the foundation for the future. Over the past fiscal year, it grew by more than $11 million, reaching $82.9 million, a meaningful step toward our $100 million goal. This growth reflects the confidence of those who believe in Ashland’s long-term impact. Through these investments, we meet today’s needs while building permanent resources that sustain scholarships, deepen faculty excellence and expand opportunity for generations to come. Every contribution adds momentum, ensuring Ashland’s mission endures far into the future.
“Our dream is for these endowed scholarships to keep growing long after we’re gone. They’re permanent funds that will support students for generations, helping 20, 30, maybe 50 students a year reach their goals. You don’t have to be a millionaire to make that kind of difference. Every gift adds up. And together, we’re ensuring Ashland’s impact lasts for generations.”
Tom Minnich ’81
A Thriving Campus Environment
“Coming from South Africa, the campus improvements have truly made Ashland feel like a second home. The upgraded indoor and outdoor spaces offer welcoming places to study, relax and connect with friends. Academically, better resources and improved spaces for collaboration have been a huge advantage to my experience. The new signage, campus beautification and the new Lyceum Café reflect Ashland’s commitment to creating a thoughtful, student-centered environment, and that makes me feel even more proud to be part of this community. Ashland is more than just a school, it’s a home away from home where I can grow both academically and personally. I’m incredibly grateful to the donors whose generosity makes that possible. Because of their support, Ashland isn’t just where I study, it’s where I belong.”
PAIGE NICHOLSON
Hometown: Durban, South Africa
Major: Finance
Class Year: Senior
The generosity of the Ashland Theological Seminary community, whether faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and friends, assists students as they answer their call to serve their communities, the local church and individuals. The generosity supports faculty through endowed chairs, faculty development and research grants. The gifts of time, resources and prayers are an integral part of our community as students journey with us. These investments into theological education ensure that we will continue to thrive as we remain committed to our mission of making modern-day disciples. Thank you for your continued support!
Yvonne N. Glass, Ph.D., LPCC-S
Executive Dean
Ashland Theological Seminary
The Impact of Giving at Ashland
It is with heartfelt appreciation that I extend my deepest thanks to every donor who contributed to Ashland University. Perhaps you gave your first gift or have supported Ashland for many years. Whether you gave a one-time gift or committed to a recurring donation, supported a capital project, assisted students with a scholarship, gave to an athletic program or established a legacy through a planned gift, you are part of something truly transformational. Thank you!
Philanthropy at Ashland is not merely financial, it is relational and generational.
Each gift reflects trust in our mission and a belief in our students. Together, your generosity has enabled scholarships, advanced research, empowered athletic achievement and strengthened the personal, vibrant learning environment that sets Ashland apart. The collective impact of your giving is immeasurable—not just in what it provides today, but in the legacy it builds for tomorrow.
Because of you, our students rise. They are prepared not only to succeed but to serve. Because of you, our faculty are equipped to inspire the next generation of honorable leaders. And because of you, Ashland continues to thrive, living out its enduring promise:
“Accent on the Individual.”
As we reflect on the achievements outlined in this year’s Impact Report, I invite you to continue walking “In Pursuit” with us. In pursuit of knowledge, of character, of impact. Your support is vital. And your involvement matters.
We cannot shape this future alone.
GIVE. Because your gift changes lives.
GIVE. Because your story becomes part of Ashland’s story.
GIVE. Because impact grows when we pursue it together.
On behalf of the entire Ashland University community, thank you for all you have done and all you continue to do.
Go Eagles!
Jason P. Miller ’96
Vice President
Office of Institutional Advancement
