Ashland University announced new president

Matt Tullis

The Ashland University Board of Trustees has announced that it has hired Dr. Carlos Campo as the 30th president of Ashland University. Campo has considerable experience in higher education, including serving as president of Regent University. He will start in his new role on June 1, 2015.

“We have conducted a thorough, national search for our next leader, and we are very excited to be able to announce that Dr. Carlos Campo has been selected to serve as the next president of Ashland University,” said AU Board Chair Lisa Miller. “Dr. Campo is a proven, highly motivated and accomplished higher education professional with more than 25 years of exemplary experience, from professor to university president.” 

Campo replaces Dr. William Crothers, who is serving as an interim president for one year while the board launched a national search for the new president.

The newly selected president and his wife, Karen, said they were anxious to get settled in Ashland.

“Karen and I look forward to getting to know the Ashland community,” Campo said. “In our brief visit, we were impressed by how kindly we were treated and the real sense of community we felt.”

Campo also noted that “the Ashland University community blends excellence and tradition in such a way that reflected their commitment to quality and the individual. We are honored and blessed to become a part of Eagle Nation.”

For the past year, Campo has been working as an educational consultant for the Gates Foundation and serving as chair of the Alliance for Hispanic Education for the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference in Sacramento, Calif. In this role, he works to improve educational outcomes for Hispanic students; coordinates and serves as featured speaker at the Hispanic Education Alliance Summits; advocates for and works with national leaders in immigration reform; and serves as national spokesperson for educational issues within the Hispanic community. 

Prior to that, Campo served as president of Regent University in Virginia Beach, Va., from August 2010 to October 2013. In this role, he oversaw and directed the administration, operations, academic affairs and international initiatives of an academic institution with seven graduate schools, an undergraduate college, online adult degree completion, continuing education and a diverse student body of more than 5,500 students.

In his list of accomplishments, Campo noted that he worked to establish Regent University as the first university in Virginia (and one of 22 nationally) to receive an “A” rating from the Association of College Trustees and Alumni. He also worked to significantly improve the fiscal condition of the University and developed and administered an operational budget with primary fiscal oversight and accountability while achieving record levels for enrollment and fundraising.

Prior to becoming president, Campo served as Chief Academic Officer and Provost at Regent from 2008 to 2010. In this role, he directed and supported an effective group of associates, deans, associate/assistant deans and chairpersons conducting day-to-day operations of academic affairs, faculty research, development and curriculum revision.

As Chief Academic Officer/Provost, he also led all accreditation reaffirmation efforts and licensing requirements, including serving as the school’s official liaison with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

From 2005 to 2008, Campo was at the College of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, and served as the school’s chief academic officer from 2007 to 2008 and as dean of the College of Arts and Letters from 2005 to 2007.

During his time there, he secured the largest single donation in the history of the College of Southern Nevada ($8.2 million), which bolstered the Health Sciences program; and served as director of academic partnerships that included creating 18 fully online programs and initiating a “Jumpstart” high school dual credit/dual enrollment program in dozens of schools. He also started the first Latino Studies Program, implementing curriculum development and overseeing the implementation. 

Through the years, Campo has received many distinctions and special awards, including:  

— Garnering “Educator of the Year” awarded by local and national organizations. 

— Receiving the 2014 MLK “Community Leader Award” from the Urban League of Hampton Roads. 

— Being named to the 2012 and 2013 Inside Business “Power List” of individuals in Hampton Roads, Va., Region. 

— Receiving the Silver Star Spirit Diversity Award, presented by the Urban League of Human Resource Young Professionals in February of 2013. 

— Receiving the Excellence in Leadership Award from the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Association in 2011. 

— Receiving an Honorary Doctorate from International University in Vienna in 2010. 

— Being named to the “Who’s Who Among American Teachers” from 2000 through 2004.

Campo received his Ph.D. in English with an emphasis in Drama (“Dissertation of the Year”), his Master of Arts Degree in English (Cum Laude) and his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theater, all from the University of Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada. Campo also has many publications to his credit in the areas of academic papers, workshops and commentaries.