ASHLAND – Ashland Theological Seminary is undergoing a transition that involves a change in top leadership.
The seminary is a graduate division of Ashland University and has campuses in Ashland, Detroit, Cleveland and Columbus.
“Dr. Bill Crothers, who had served as interim president of Ashland University, became interim president of Ashland Theological Seminary on Monday, May 21, as the seminary moves forward in a new direction,” Ashland University director of public relations Steve Hannan said via email Wednesday, adding that this would be the university’s only statement on the matter.
Hannan, Crothers and Thomas Murray, chairman of the seminary advisory committee, did not return multiple phone calls.
University president Carlos Campo declined to comment about the seminary’s previous president, Mark Harden, saying it was a personnel matter.
Campo did say the seminary is “in transition.”
“It really is about aligning the seminary and the university even more,” Campo said.
Crothers previously served as interim president of Ashland University, stepping into the role in 2014 when Frederick Finks transitioned from university president to the newly created chancellor position. Crothers served as interim president until 2015, when current president Carlos Campo was hired.
During his brief tenure, Crothers led the university through an institutional review process that resulted in restructuring and staff and faculty cuts.
Asked whether Crothers will be tasked with a similar restructuring at the seminary, Campo said, “It’s certainly not about cuts. That’s certainly not the intent.”
Harden had led the seminary since 2016, when he replaced previous president John Shultz.
Before that, Harden was Boston Campus Dean and Associate Professor of Community Development and Outreach at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary in Roxbury, Mass.
