We Strengthen the Capacities of the American people for constitutional self-government.

History

Since 1983, Ashbrook has demonstrated success by building and refining high-quality programs to educate students, teachers, and citizens.

The Ashbrook Center, an independent academic center located at Ashland University, was established and named in honor of the late Congressman John M. Ashbrook, who represented Ohio’s 17th Congressional district for 21 years. President Ronald Reagan personally dedicated the Ashbrook Center on May 9, 1983. While based in north central Ohio, Ashbrook offers educational programs across the country for students, teachers, and citizens.

The mission of the Ashbrook Center is to strengthen constitutional self-government by educating our fellow Americans—students, teachers, and citizens—in the history and Founding principles of our country and the habits of reflection and choice necessary to perpetuate our republic.

Ashbrook’s programs began quite modestly in 1984 with 14 students in the inaugural class of the Ashbrook Scholar Program. Over the years, the Ashbrook Scholar Program has grown dramatically and achieved a national reputation as one of the finest programs for undergraduate students.

Many of Ashbrook’s friends and supporters know Ashbrook for sponsoring nationally and internationally known speakers at the John M. Ashbrook Memorial Dinner, including Margaret Thatcher, George H.W. Bush, Benjamin Netanyahu, Clarence Thomas, Henry Kissinger, and William F. Buckley. Ashbrook’s other major speakers’ event, the Major Issues Lecture Series, is the oldest lecture series of its kind in the region.

Ashbrook began offering educational programs for middle and high school teachers in 1991. Teachers eagerly attended these events, hungering for a substantive education in American principles that was sorely lacking in their formal education. In 2001, Ashbrook launched TeachingAmericanHistory.org to offer teachers free access to teaching resources and a collection of primary sources that has grown to over 2500 historical documents.

At the request of teachers, Ashbrook established the Master of Arts in American History and Government graduate degree program in 2005. The graduate program, designed specifically for teachers, offers educators a deep understanding of the subjects they teach, while helping them to supplement or replace textbooks with original historical documents and engage their students in thoughtful conversations about the enduring questions of American history.

In 2013, an Ashbrook Board member who was deeply concerned about the direction of our country challenged Ashbrook to take action. He encouraged us to mobilize our unique capabilities to deploy our programs broadly to the nation’s 125,000 middle and high school history and government teachers. He was convinced that by preparing teachers, we could reach a generation of young Americans.

In response Ashbrook launched one-day seminars, multi-day seminars at historic sites, and webinars at no cost to the nation’s social studies teachers. These Teaching American History programs equip teachers to help their students discover for themselves the true story of America.

Since 1983, the Ashbrook Center has grown into a truly national organization, supporting teachers, students, and citizens wherever they live and work.

Ashbrook’s growth and success would not be possible without the sacrifice and vision of the founders and directors of the Ashbrook Center.

Ashbrook is governed by its own Board and is responsible for raising all of the funds necessary for its many programs. Contributions to Ashbrook are tax-deductible under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.

John Milan Ashbrook

Who was John Ashbrook?

John Milan Ashbrook
(September 21, 1928 – April 24, 1982)

“John Ashbrook was a man of courage and principle. He served his constituents and his country with dedication and devotion, always working towards the betterment of his fellow man. His patriotism and deep belief in the greatness of America never wavered and his articulate and passionate calls for a return to old-fashioned American values earned him the respect of all who knew him.” — Ronald Reagan.

The Board

Board Members

Marvin J. Krinsky Chairman of the Board
Bob Archer CEO Kent Watersports
David M. Bush Former President and CEO Adena Corporation
Carlos Campo President Ashland University
David J. Eichinger First Vice-President Merrill Lynch
Jeffrey S. Gorman President The Gorman-Rupp Company
Jennifer Guy Former President Association of Community Cancer Centers
Rebeccah Heinrichs Senior Fellow Hudson Institute
Robert D. Kessler President Kessler Sign Company
Dustin Ness Managing Partner Waterstreet Financial
Lee Reineke Chairman AmeriCarb International
Mark Romanchuk Owner/President PR Machine Works, Inc.
Jeffrey Sikkenga Executive Director Ashbrook Center
James Smail Chairman Farmers National Bank
Dede Storer President Storer Design
Christine Taylor Director of Talent Development Stark Education Partnership
Thomas B. Whatman Chief Strategist Majority Strategies

Emeritus Members

James Buchwald Emeritus Member (2007 to 2022)
Bill Batchelder Emeritus Member (2007-2020)
Roger L. Beckett Emeritus Member (2013-2018)
David L. Carto Emeritus Member (2000-2014)
Bill Harris Emeritus Member (1997-2015)
Charles Parton Chairman Emeritus (1997)
William A. Rusher Chairman Emeritus (1988 to 1997)
Peter W. Schramm Emeritus Member (1997-2015)
Jean Ashbrook Cromer Honorary Member
Fred A. Lennon Chairman Emeritus (1983 to 1988)
F. Clifton White Emeritus Member (1983 to 1992)
Thomas Van Meter Emeritus Member (1983 to 1992)

Staff

Dawne Beckel

Operations & Budget Manager

Cole Branham

Foundation and Donor Relations Manager

Amanda Bryan

Publications Manager for TeachingAmericanHistory

Candee Collins

Teacher Programs Manager

Josh Distel

Alumni Relations and Citizen Programs Manager

Julie Doerner

Manager of Philanthropic Services

Jeremy Gypton

Academic and Citizen Outreach Manager

Hannah Hines

Office Assistant

Michelle Hubenschmidt

Teacher Programs Manager

Chad Kifer

Senior Director of Philanthropy & Strategic Partnerships

Ben Kunkel

Director of Student Programs

Patrick Maloney

Deputy Director

Sabrina Maristela

Student Programs Coordinator

Charles Martindell

Graduate Programs Resource Manager

Monica Moser

Teacher Programs Administrator

Elizabeth Newman

Manager of Philanthropic Events and Operations

Rhyan Opel

Student Programs Recruiting Coordinator

Christian A. Pascarella

Director of Graduate Programs

Rich Policz

Associate Director of Student Programs

Cristi Putman

Teacher Programs Administrator

Courtney Reiner

Teacher Programs Manager

Brent Rossman

Donor Communications Manager

Sally Schramm

Senior Director

Emily Schramm

Teacher Programs, Publications and Multi Day Coordinator

Jeffrey Sikkenga

Executive Director

Ann Stiteler

Office Manager

David Tucker

Senior Fellow

Ellen Tucker

Communications Editor

Heather Velasquez

Teacher Programs Manager

Dantan Wernecke

Major Gift Officer

Faculty

Resident Faculty

Cara Rogers

Assistant Professor of History

Christopher Burkett

Associate Professor of Political Science
Director of the Ashbrook Scholar Program

David Foster

Professor of Political Science

David Tucker

Senior Fellow

Gregory McBrayer

Associate Professor of Political Science
Director of Citizen Programs
Director of University Core Curriculum

Jason Stevens

Visiting Assistant Professor of Political Science and History

Jeffrey Sikkenga

Professor of Political Science

John E. Moser

Chair of the Department of History and Political Science and Professor of History

René Paddags

Associate Professor of Political Science

Robert Wyllie

Assistant Professor of Political Science
Director of Political Economy Program

National Faculty

Abbylin Sellers

Associate Professor of Political Science, Azusa Pacific University.
Ph.D., Claremont Graduate University

Adam Seagrave

Associate Professor of Political Science, Arizona State University.
Ph.D., University of Notre Dame

Andrew E. Busch

Crown Professor of Government and George R. Roberts Fellow, Claremont McKenna College.
Ph.D., M.A., University of Virginia

Dan Monroe

John C. Griswold Distinguished Professor of History, Millikin University.
Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; M.S., Illinois State University

David F. Krugler

Professor of History, University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
Ph.D., M.A., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

David Wrobel

Professor of History, University of Oklahoma; Chair of Western American History, University of Oklahoma
Ph.D., M.A., Ohio University

Dennis K. Boman

Adjunct Professor of History, American Intercontinental University.
Ph.D., M.A., University of Missouri

Eric C. Sands

Associate Professor of Government and International Studies, Berry College.
Ph.D., M.A., University of Virginia

Eric Pullin

Associate Professor of History and Asian Studies, Carthage College.
Ph.D., Univesity of Wisconsin-Madison; M.A., Northern Illinois University

Gregory Schneider

Professor of History, Emporia State University.
Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago; M.A., Ohio University; B.A., Drake University.

J. David Alvis

Associate Professor of Political Science, Wofford College.
Ph.D., Fordham University; M.A.

Jace Weaver

Franklin Professor of Native American Studies and Religion and Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Georgia.
J.D. Columbia Law School of Columbia University; Ph.D. Union Theological Seminary in New York

James Stoner

Professor and Director of the Eric Voegelin Institute in the Department of Political Science, Louisiana State University.
Ph.D., M.A., Harvard University

Jason Jividen

Associate Professor of Politics, McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government, Saint Vincent College.
Ph.D., University of Northern Illinois; M.A., Marshall University

Jay D. Green

Professor of History, Covenant College.
Ph.D., Kent State University; M.A., Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Jennifer D. Keene

Chair and Professor of History, Chapman University.
Ph.D., Carnegie-Mellon University; M.A., The George Washington University

Jeremy D. Bailey

Sanders Chair in Law and Liberty, University of Oklahoma.
Ph.D., Boston College

John Dinan

Professor of Politics, Wake Forest University.
Ph.D., M.A., University of Virginia

Joseph R. Fornieri

Professor of Political Science, Rochester Institute of Technology.
Ph.D., Catholic University of America; M.A., Boston College

Joshua Dunn

Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science, University of Colorado; Director of the Center for the Study of Government and the Individual, University of Colorado.
Ph.D., University of Virginia

Kathleen Pfeiffer

Professor of English, Oakland University.
Ph.D., Brandeis University

Ken Masugi

Visiting Professor of Political Science, Johns Hopkins University.
Ph.D., M.A., The New School for Social Research

Lauren K. Hall

Associate Professor of Political Science, Rochester Institute of Technology.
PhD, MA – Northern Illinois University

Lucas E. Morel

Professor of Politics and Head of the Politics Department, Washington and Lee University. Ph.D., M.A.,
Claremont Graduate School

Marc K. Landy

Edward & Louise Peterson Professor of American History & Government, Ashland University; Professor of Political Science, Boston College.
Ph.D., Harvard University

Natalie F. Taylor

Associate Professor of Government, Skidmore College.
Ph.D., M.A., Fordham University

Peter C. Myers

Professor of Political Science, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Ph.D., Loyola University, Chicago

Peter McNamara

Associate Professor of Political Science, Utah State University
PhD, Boston College

Robert J. Norrell

Professor of History and Bernadotte Schmitt Chair of Excellence, University of Tennesee. Ph.D., University of Virginia

Robert M.S. McDonald

Professor of History, United States Military Academy.
Ph.D., M.A., University of North Carolina; M.St., Oxford University

Sarah M. Burns

Associate Professor of Political Science, Rochester Institute of Technology.
Ph.D., M.A., Claremont Graduate University

Scott Yenor

Professor of Political Science, Boise State University.
Ph.D., Loyola University.

Sean Sutton

Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Political Science, Rochester Institute of Technology
Ph.D., University of Dallas

Stephen F. Knott

Professor of National Security Affairs, U.S. Naval War College; Thomas & Mabel Guy Professor of American History & Government, Ashland University.
Ph.D., Boston College

Stephen K. Tootle

Professor of History, College of the Sequoias.
Ph.D., Ohio University; M.A., California State, Fresno; B.A., California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo.

Suzanne Hunter Brown

Resident Scholar, Dartmouth College
Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania

Todd Estes

Professor of History, Oakland University.
Ph.D., University of Kentucky.

William B. Allen

Emeritus Dean and Professor of Political Science, Michigan State University.
Ph.D., M.A., Claremont Graduate School

William J. Atto

Associate Professor of History, University of Dallas.
Ph.D., M.A.