Couple establishes endowed professorship at Ashland University; brings alumnus back to teach

Ashland University’s new Archer Endowed Position in American History & Politics will be first held by Adam Carrington, Ph.D, a 2007 Ashland University graduate. The endowed position was established thanks to a $1 million gift from Bob and Jan Archer, who set up the endowment specifically to bring Carrington back to Ashland University.

According to an article on Ashland University’s website, Carrington explained his experience with Ashland University, and what it means to him to be back on campus, this time as a professor, thanks to the endowment set up by the Archers. He is quoted as saying, “Ashland has always meant a lot to me. It really put me on the track I’m on now. The professors that were here at the time, the classes, the staff, just the overall institution … really showed me what a good education was. I didn’t come to Ashland thinking I was going to be a college professor, didn’t think that was even possible. They really not only showed me that it was possible, they made it possible. So, I’m very thankful and hopeful I can give back … just a little bit of what Ashland has given me and maybe help other students in similar situations realize their potential and realize what they’re capable of.”

The Archer Endowed Position in American History & Politics will be funded by the gift from the Archers. Whoever fills the position, with Carrington as the inaugural professor, will teach a regular course load and will be responsible for all the normal activities expected of a professor. The endowment will provide funding for the professor to travel and engage in their scholarly activities.

Carrington graduated from Ashland University in 2007 with a bachelor degree in political science and religion. While at Ashland, Carrington was an Ashbrook Scholar, having won a prestigious Ashbrook Scholarship. He went on to earn his Ph.D in political science from Baylor University. For 10 years, Carrington taught political science at Hillsdale College, which is where the Archers happened to meet Carrington, leading to the establishment of the Archer Endowed Position in American History & Politics at Ashland University.

Carrington explained the chance encounter that led to a conversation with the Archers. He said, “We were talking for a long time about education, why I liked being part of college life. I thought I was selling Hillsdale … then later learned that Mr. Archer was interested in seeing if there were ways that I can kind of come back home.”

Bob Archer said, “I think (Adam’s) teaching methods will be so well received by the Ashbrook Scholars, as well as all AU students. They’re going to learn so much from him … he’s the cream of the crop. The only way to get him (was) to set up an endowed chair, and we were happy to do so.”

Now that Carrington has returned to his alma mater to teach a new generation of students, he feels he is poised to help make a difference: “I’m being given the chance to really step up and start helping to build some things, some programming within the Ashbrook Center. The vision that I heard … going forward (from) the people I talked to, I said that sounds like a good place to come back to.” He also said, “I’m deeply thankful to the Archers for this vote of confidence and really hope I can act in a way, teach in a way, conduct myself in a way that is worthy of it and in line with the school’s mission and really just try to be a part of the great community here. It’s an honor. I’m very humbled.”

For more information about Ashland University, visit the school’s website.