Bishop James M. and Mrs. Dorothy B. Ault
The Bishop James M. and Mrs. Dorothy B. Ault Endowed Scholarship Fund will assist future Africa University students to realize their full potential for leadership. The Aults' gift highlights a longstanding connection with Africa that Mrs. Ault and the late Bishop Ault shared. Elected to the episcopacy of The United Methodist Church in 1972, Bishop Ault, together with Mrs. Ault, soon traveled to Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe (formerly Southern Rhodesia) to learn more about the denomination's work and mission in Africa. "Visiting churches and schools in those nations and sharing with local church leaders and members in these diverse nations left us with many profoundly moving and enlightening experiences," Mrs. Ault reflected.
Later, as president of the General Board of Global Ministries from 1985-1989, Bishop Ault helped to guide crucial deliberations leading to the establishment of Africa University in 1988 by the General Conference of the denomination. "Seeing Africa University's amazing growth and vitality, including its effective reach to students and faculty from across Sub-Saharan Africa, has been exciting," Mrs. Ault exclaimed. "We hope that the scholarship will enable some gifted young people, both men and women, to become strong and effective leaders wherever they choose to serve," Mrs. Ault said. [Excerpted from the Fall 2016 issue of the AU Today newsletter].