Rick Reed of Camanche, IA, who graduated from Mount St. Clare College (MSC) in 1978 and has returned to teach in the classrooms of Ashford University (formerly Mount St. Clare College), was inducted into the Ashford University Alumni Hall of Fame Saturday, Nov. 7. 

While at MSC, Reed was active in many organizations including the Yearbook Committee, Civic Leadership, Alpha Eta Sigma and many other campus activities. He was also a member of the Mount St. Clare “Mounties” men’s basketball team.

After earning an Associate of Arts degree from MSC, Reed was recruited in 1978 by Lee Enterprises to manage “The Bettendorf News,” a weekly newspaper in Bettendorf, IA. One year later, he became the art director at Advertising Communications, Inc. of Davenport, IA.

In 1986, Reed started Adesign, Inc., a $20 million advertising and marketing communications firm located in the Quad Cities.  He currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer. Listed with Dunn and Bradstreet, Adesign, Inc. is celebrating its 23^rd successful year in business, serving the needs of clients from all over the world. 

In furthering his education, Reed attended classes at St. Ambrose University (SAU) in Davenport and, in 1995, when St. Ambrose began an accelerated degree program, he signed up, graduating in 1999 with a Bachelor of Elected Studies degree in Business and in Art, with concentrations in Advertising and Marketing Communications. In 2003, Reed earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from SAU. He is now working on his Doctor of Education in Ethical Leadership, and expects to complete the degree program in May 2012. 

Reed began teaching at the college level in 2004 and, when Ashford University introduced its accelerated classes in 2005, he became one of the program’s first instructors. Since then he has taught more than 50 classes at Ashford’s Clinton campus, as well as several of the university’s on-line courses. 

Reed’s current personal projects include illustrating children’s books, writing a book on marketing for communities, and helping many local organizations by serving as a board member, director, and volunteer. 

About Ashford University

Founded in 1918, Ashford University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (www.ncahlc.org). The University offers graduate and undergraduate degree programs online and at its Clinton, Iowa, campus. The University is known for its high quality yet highly affordable online and on-campus programs. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu or call Shari Rodriguez, director of Public Relations, at 858.513.9240 x2513.