Dr. Dawn Morton, Ed.D.,

Assistant Director of Advanced Degree Programs and Field Education / Assistant Professor of Christian Formation and Leadership, Dr. Dawn, as she prefers to be called, serves the institution with the leadership of the Doctor of Ministry program, providing a quality experience for students, courses, faculty, and expansion of programming. She has also led the seminary in assessment practices, student learning outcomes, and overall assessment for the seminary, serving on multiple committees for HLC (Higher Learning Commission) and working with The Association of Theological Schools. The accreditation review in November 2018 was successful, and the seminary passed with approval of ten more years of accreditation. In Fall 2024, Dr. Dawn has stepped up to lead the Field Education program and internships for master level students.

Dr. Dawn has good insight into the challenges that students encounter, having faced plenty of challenges along her own academic journey. In high school, a teacher insisted that Dr. Dawn should not go to college, suggesting instead that she choose a trade school to gain skills as she came from a poor family and the teacher didn’t think she was smart enough for an academic future. Dr. Dawn has certainly overcome those discouraging words by earning three degrees, including a doctoral degree in leadership, and excelling in her vocation and giftings. And she has a heart for ATS students, having received her MA in Christian Education from ATS.

She is grateful to have been raised in a church with two female pastors who became her mentors and affirmed her leadership skills. Click here to find her article on Christianity Today. These experiences strengthened Dr. Dawn’s resolve to encourage, teach and enable those stepping outside of the status quo and into God’s calling. She has served in the teaching ministry of the church for 50+ years helping others to be formed to the image of Christ. She believes in being a vessel used by God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, so that others might encounter transformation with Christ. And she believes this transformation can be part of higher education. She also travels to local churches mentoring others in the field of Christian Formation and Leadership.

Dr. Dawn serves as Children’s Ministry Leader at her church, Freedom Ridge, Mansfield, Ohio and is also serving as Leadership Team Chair in the absence of a lead pastor. She is the Area Team Coordinator of Operation Christmas Child for six Ohio counties, a member of SPCM – Society of Professors in Christian Ministry, serving her second term as a board member of the international organization. She has traveled to Tanzania, Africa to distribute shoebox gifts in June 2019. She has also been a past President of the Board for Hope For Every Heart, a ministry to build water wells, provide education and medical care, and child sponsorship in Uganda, Africa. She is also an advocate with International Child Care Ministries through the Free Methodist Church and supports four children from Ecuador, Kenya, India, and Cambodia and is the Missions Coordinator at her church. She works with Thailand missionaries bringing hope to a hostel for impoverished children. She also enjoys family genealogy and plays with her three orange tabby cats. She is also an avid reader and writer, researching Christian education and leadership. She is married to Dr. Russell Morton, Professional Fellow of Biblical Studies, Ashland, and Adjunct Instructor in online courses for New Testament with another institution. Together, they serve Ashland students by editing, advising and praying with Doctor of Ministry students.