As a crowd of suits, dresses, and Ashland University members wearing regalia enter the Jack and Deb Miller on Friday at 3:33 p.m., Campo’s official inauguration as the 30th president in the university’s 138-year history begun.

“He [Campo] seems very committed to the university, doing what in its best interest,” said AU student Dennis Clark.

In Campo’s short time AU he has won the hearts of many AU students and AU members. The love for Campo showed on Friday with a packed chapel. Campo’s was the first inauguration since 2006 when Fred Finks was inaugurated as the university’s president. 

“For what it’s worth, the Ashland population loves Dr. Campo,” says a bystander. The trustees, faculty, and a group of international students depart from the AU rec center and head towards the Jack and Deb miller chapel, where Campo’s inauguration is to take place. 

As the group of over 90 faculty members arrive at the chapel the organ begins playing and Campo follows them.  As he walks by he says “bless you” to everyone that he sees. Campo is swarmed by handshakes, hugs, and various other gestures of affection. At 2:07 p.m., the international students walk in, carrying their home flags- and the ceremony officially starts. 

After an invocation by former interim president Dr. William Crothers and a scripture reading from Interim Provost Dr. Doug Fiore, a group of speakers including Chair of the AU Board of Trustees, Joyce Lamb, Mayor of Ashland, Glen Stewart, and State Representative David Hall begin the welcome.

After the speakers, special guest 79th U.S. Attorney General, John Ashcroft delivered the “challenge of leadership” to Campo.

During the challenge, Ashcroft pointed out that communication in is fragmented and stated, what happens at AU does not stay at AU. 

“I challenge you Mr. President to have noble goals,” stated Ashcroft. 

After Ashcroft’s speech, Campo is inaugurated as AU’s 30th president; a standing ovation follows. After being inaugurated, Campo delivered a speech highlighting his love for family, community, and accepts Ashcroft’s challenge to have noble goals.

“I was very impressed by all the speakers, especially Dr. Campo,” stated Clark after the ceremony. 

After Campo’s speech, Campo’s sister and his son preformed On Christ the Solid Rock, a musical duet performed by the two, which caused Campo to become teary-eyed. As the organ begun playing the faculty, trustees, students, and Ashland community members left the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel to a recession in the Dauch College of Business and Economics building.

“The set up went great… Everyone pulled together as a team and did a wonderful job,” said Director of Major Gifts at AU, Jason Miller who helped set up the event. It is clear Dr. Campo has done a lot to help keep AU stable and thriving in his short time in office. Now, officially as AU’s 30th president, Campo will have the ability to work at the “noble goals” he was challenged to attain.