Dr. Ashton Cleveland Selected as Lincoln University of Missouri’s Chief Operating Officer

Lincoln University of Missouri has selected Dr. Ashton Cleveland as the chief operating officer (COO), a new position within the university’s leadership team aimed at strengthening LU’s operational excellence and strategic execution.

As chief operating officer, Dr. Cleveland will support the president by managing staff, budgets, policies and procedures, ensuring smooth operations across the institution. He will coordinate strategic initiatives, fostering effective communication and collaboration with both internal and external partners. Working closely with the president, provost and other leaders, he will help advance university priorities by implementing cross-functional projects and policies.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cleveland to our university,” Lincoln University of Missouri President Dr. John B. Moseley said. “His extensive expertise and leadership will be invaluable as we continue to advance our strategic initiatives and uphold our commitment to excellence. I am confident that his contributions will significantly enhance our operations and drive our institution forward.”

Originally from Miami, Florida, Cleveland holds an M.Ed. from UCLA, a J.D. from the University of Florida and an Ed.D. from Vanderbilt University. He comes to Lincoln University from Shaw University, where he served as the vice president for student affairs. He previously worked at UC San Diego as dean of student affairs, where he oversaw residence life, case management, student conduct, academic integrity, student life and students of concern response teams.

Dr. Cleveland’s experience includes working on Capitol Hill and contributing to policy revisions for various higher education institutions. He previously taught grades 7-12 in Inglewood, California, and grades 9-12 in Albany, Georgia, blending K-12 and higher education strategies to support first-generation and historically underserved students.