Dear NKU campus community,
Believe it or not, we are two months into the spring 2024 semester and just a couple days away from spring break! I hope that our students and faculty will enjoy the week away from class, homework and study, and will have time to relax and recharge for the final eight weeks of this term. I know staff and many faculty will remain on campus through the coming week, and I truly appreciate the work you all do.
Before we know it, the summer months will be upon us and with them Commencement, summer classes, and preparation for the 2024-25 academic year. Time flies!
I am thrilled to join our entire community in recognition of Women’s History Month throughout March. In fact, there will be several events celebrating women throughout the month!
I am honored to serve as the first woman president at NKU and want to recognize and offer thanks to the many women who are leading and working with us here at the University and in the community. I believe that each of us brings our own lived experience and unique lens to the work we do here. And given that the majority of our students at NKU are women, I know that they can look to our examples for roles they might imagine for themselves as well as ways they may want to lead, manage, or serve others. I know that my mentor, the late Dr. Judith Trent, at UC played a leading role in shaping me as a scholar and leader and I am grateful for the example she set for me.
I am also grateful to all who have stepped up to volunteer for our Strategic Enrollment Management (SEM) Planning and Workforce & Experiential Learning/Outreach Hub Concept task forces. The SEM Task Force has been finalized and it will be co-chaired by Drs. Abdou Ndoye and Ryan Padgett. Here are the folks who will represent us on the SEM task force: Michele Adams, Matt Albritton, Sheena Brooks, Bonita Brown, LaVette Burnette, Holly Chason, Charlisa Daniels, Amy Danzo, Ginni Fair, Christian Gamm, Ryan Goss, Rebecca Hamm, Zach Hart, Kristin Hornsby, Francois LeRoy, Rusty Mardis, Logan Pendleton, Ashley Siemer, Leah Stewart, and Amy Wylie. The Experiential Learning/Outreach Hub Concept Task Force is lagging behind the SEM group but I anticipate naming the members in the next few weeks. As this important work progresses, I will keep the campus community updated. Thanks for offering to serve on these efforts—I am confident that we will create effective plans and special concepts together.
As always, we have so much good news to share here this semester. Here are just a few examples:
Of course, there are more examples of the many great things happening at NKU each day. Read more about everything happening at the NKU Media Center. And please stay up to date with the happenings around campus by looking at our featured events calendar.
As always, I appreciate your support of our students and campus community.
Have a great March!
All my best to each of you,
Cady Short-Thompson, Ph.D.
President, Northern Kentucky University
