ASHLAND, Ohio — Katherine T. Brown, Ph.D., has announced that she will step down as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Ashland University, effective July 31. Brown, who has been serving as dean since July 2022, will join the faculty of the Department of Art and Design.
“Dean Brown has made tremendous impact on our students through her superb faculty hires and persistent focus on academic excellence,” said AU President Jon Parrish Peede, D.A. “We welcome the opportunity for her to apply her scholarly expertise, museum experience and teaching in the classroom.”
During her deanship, Brown was instrumental in securing a partnership with Shimadzu Scientific Instruments, resulting in $500,000 of upgraded equipment for Kettering Labs with lead funding from alumna Dawn Swit ’92. With support from Bob and Jan Archer, she expanded Faculty Champions and Deans’ Scholarships programs. She also coordinated the renovation of a Steinway piano with a major gift from Tom and Dede ‘81 Gregory and supported upgrades to the Hugo Young Theatre, Piano Lab and Criminal Justice Lab.
Brown backed the hiring of 17 faculty members and doubled the level of participation and attendance at the Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Symposium.
“I value the time I have invested in serving as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at Ashland University and remain grateful for the opportunity,” Brown stated. “I am looking forward to teaching and continued service in the best interests of our students.”
Brown published her fourth book, “Arboreal Symbolism in European Art, 1300-1800,” with Routledge in 2024. As a scholar of art history, she served as peer reviewer for numerous journals and as an external reviewer for faculty members at other universities.
The mission of the College of Arts & Sciences is to provide an enriching liberal arts education that fosters intellectual inquiry and critical thinking about the natural world and the human experience.
Ashland University will appoint an interim dean for the College of Arts & Sciences for the 2025-26 academic year.
