Peg Adams is the Director of University Connect and Persist (UCAP), FUEL NKU the campus food pantry, and Care Closet @ NKU where students have access to free clothing at Northern Kentucky University. She earned her Master's degree in education from Western Kentucky University and is a proud alum of NKU where she earned her bachelor's degree in English and psychology. Throughout her nearly 40 year career at NKU, Peg has contributed to the development and implementation of student success initiatives in a variety of roles, including Support Specialist in Student Support Services, Director of First -Year Programs, and Instructor of UNV 101: Orientation to College and Beyond, ENG 151H: Honors Freshman Composition and ENG 101: College Writing.
In addition, Peg has served on numerous campus committees and advisory boards, such as the Foundations of Excellence Transitions Committee, EAB Student Success Collaborative Work Group, University Council for Student Success, First-Year Experience Task Force and the Success by Design Coordinated Care Planning and Implementation Team.
A Northern Kentucky native, Peg enjoys taking brisk walks, attending sporting events and theatre, and spending time with family and friends.
Caitlin Drouillard-Ahlrichs (she/they) is a Program Coordinator with University Connect and Persist & oversees the Care Closet @ NKU. Having been part of NKU since 2016, their higher ed journey began as a graduate assistant in UCAP and Housing from 2012-2014.
Caitlin enjoys their role as the UCAP liaison for the LGBTQA+ Student Initiatives office and advocate for the “elder queers” (fac/staff/admin) on campus as the President of SAFE. Whether someone needs advice or to overshare with someone without judgement, Caitlin’s office is always open. With a Master's degree in English earned in 2014, Caitlin is currently pursuing a Master’s in Social Work, with an anticipated graduation in spring 2026.
They live in Cincinnati with their wife, Joelle, their daughter, Rory, and their cat, Ood. Their home is a warm & welcoming space shared with Caitlin's younger sibling, Rae, and sister-in-law, Rys. In their downtime, Caitlin loves to visit local shops, attend art and craft fairs, host game nights with chosen family, and listen to Tegan & Sara, boygenius, or Chappel Roan on repeat. They enjoy redecorating at midnight, discussing dinosaurs and weird facts with Rory, bingeing their favorite shows, collecting stickers for their water bottle, diving into Yellowjackets’ conspiracy theories, getting lost in the My Favorite Murder podcast, and, of course, tackling never-ending homework.
Jennifer Stephens is a Program Coordinator with University Connect and Persist. You'll find her in the office with Scooby-Doo, evil eye amulets, and elephants decorating the shelves. Previously, she worked at Northern Kentucky University as manager for the Music Preparatory Program for 8 years. Jennifer enjoys helping students solve problems, walking with her sister during the lunch hour, and baking goodies for her team.
She has a Bachelor of Arts in History from Trinity College in Burlington, Vermont and a Master’s of Social Work from the University of Kentucky. She has worked as a Social Worker at The Christ Hospital and Dialysis Clinic, Inc. in Cincinnati, OH.
Jennifer is a native of Maine, but has lived in Kentucky for many years. She enjoys travelling to visit family and friends on the east coast. Jennifer loves the movie The Mummy, and can recite it from heart. Jennifer spends some of her free time watching Korean television, reading, and listening to music. Jennifer plays cello and has had the opportunity to play with the NKU Philharmonic Orchestra and even travel with them to Ireland.
John Hall is relatively new to the UCAP and the Enrollment and Degree Management teams. He was previously at Gateway Community and Technical College. More info to come.
