Waynesburg University has already started its 2025-2026 school year; however, it will have to find a Chaplain moving forward. Josh Sumpter, Waynesburg University’s former chaplain of nine years, now begins a new chapter as he starts his first year with his alma mater, Ashland University.

“It was definitely unexpected,” Sumpter said. “Yet there is something really special about your alma mater. I was a graduate of Ashland University 2007, and graduated from the Ashland Theological Seminary, which is connected to the University, in 2010. I’ve lived in the community before, and many of the people I love and care about are still in this community. It was both a holistic decision and work decision, and to just be closer to family. I think it is part of this ongoing story that God is writing. I love Waynesburg, and I love Ashland, and it felt like the time to take that next step to trust God personally and professionally and return to a place that I love.”

Sophomore Biblical Ministry Studies major Josh Smith talked about his relationship with Sumpter.

“He was a huge reason why I even chose to come to Waynesburg, his personability and all that he did just staying in touch with me and continuing to just seek me out individually was something that really stuck out with me,” Smith said. “This was the place God was calling me to be, and this is the man to learn and get wisdom from. He just helped me so much epically when I felt lonely or dealing with mental health issues and he really kept me biblically grounded. He truly knows the word of God and was definitely one of my best friends on campus.” 

Sumpter had his hand in a lot of different things during his time at Waynesburg, from being the chaplain, to teaching the Biblical Ministry Studies classes, to overseeing the Christian Life Scholarship program, to being a leader and mentor. Josh Sumpter made it his duty to make an impact both on and off campus.

“My hope at Waynesburg is that students were able to learn from watching the way I went about my ministry,” Sumpter said. “From my ministry, to the relationships I built across campus, I hope that they encountered or saw Jesus. No one will remember the lessons that you taught or the assignments that you gave, but they do remember the way you cared for them or showed up for them. I always hoped to lead by example in that way…I hope that people know that it was a way of life, and it wasn’t just work.”

Smith talked about the kind of person, professor, leader and friend that Sumpter is.

“The biggest thing was that he took time to learn people’s names and he took time to know who you are, regardless of whether he knew a lot about you,” Smith said. “If you were on a sports team, he’d learn your name and try to get to know you from there and if he didn’t know you at all he’d find a way to know you.”

Sumpter reminisced on his time at Waynesburg and the connections he made throughout the years.

“I think the thing that I love about Waynesburg University is the relationships I had with the people there,” Sumpter said. “Every person that you work with and every student that you journey with is an opportunity to learn, to learn from people, to learn about God and to learn about my calling. I bring Waynesburg University with me wherever I go because of the people that have shaped me.”