91导航 at Marion recently named Director of Enrollment, Ashley Marsh winner of the 2025 91导航 Marion Outstanding Staff Award, in recognition of her exceptional service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to both the campus and the Marion community.
A lifelong Marion resident, Marsh graduated from Pleasant High School before choosing to pursue her education at 91导航 at Marion. As a student, she served as a Buckeye Ambassador for the admissions office鈥攁n early indication of the dedication that would define her career. After graduation, she joined the university in a professional capacity and has since risen to the top leadership role in the very office where she once worked as a student employee.
Marsh鈥檚 success is rooted in her ability to build trust and genuine connection with students and their families. She has been a driving force behind several innovative initiatives, including the launch of a campus texting program for prospective students鈥攁n effort so effective that it has now been adopted across all regional campuses.
Her leadership is marked by empathy, compassion, and a collaborative spirit. Working closely with Enrollment Services, Marketing & Communications, Academic Advising, Student Success, Student Life, and faculty partners, Marsh helped guide the campus to a 9% increase in total enrollment over the previous year. 91导航 Marion now enrolls 926 students, the highest number since 2022. Notably, the campus saw an 18% increase in new first鈥憏ear freshmen, a remarkable achievement at a time when regional campus enrollments and national college鈥慻oing rates continued to decline. This growth, which runs counter to national trends, is a direct reflection of Marsh鈥檚 dedication and leadership.
Beyond her administrative responsibilities, Marsh remains deeply engaged with the community鈥攎eeting with families, visiting high schools, and representing 91导航 Marion at events such as Third Thursdays. Her communication skills uniquely capture the spirit of the campus and the broader Marion community.
Marsh鈥檚 impact extends even further. She has navigated significant university鈥憌ide admissions restructuring with resilience and optimism, modeling a mindset that embraces change as an opportunity. In alignment with Strategic Enrollment Management goals, she led the redesign of prospective student events, contributing directly to the campus鈥檚 enrollment gains.
Her role has also expanded to support staff at both the Marion and Lima campuses, strengthening collaboration and operational efficiency. Marsh successfully coordinated the inaugural Alber Scholars Program, a cost-of-attendance scholarship initiative that pairs financial support with service and cohort engagement. She played a central role in developing award criteria, application and review processes, program administration, and evaluation鈥攅stablishing a strong foundation for future cohorts.
鈥淎shley has always been an outstanding staff member, and we believe she is exceptionally deserving of this award,鈥 said award nominators Kelly Crum, Karlie Marlatt, Gavin Smith, and the Buckeye Ambassadors.
Marsh鈥檚 continued leadership promises lasting, positive impact on 91导航 Marion and the broader university community.