Ashland is a small and secluded city along Interstate 71 in north central Ohio, roughly 65 miles southwest of Cleveland and eighty miles northeast of Columbus. Folks entering the city are greeted by a sign proclaiming Ashland as “The World Headquarters of Nice People,” a lofty self-designation that complements the community’s charming residential neighborhoods and Main Street’s timeless small-town aesthetic. The city is home to Ashland University, a private institution serving around 6,000 students and employing hundreds of locals as faculty and staff members at its campus near the center of town.