Northern Kentucky University welcomes 7th president in school history

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Northern Kentucky University installed its first female president on Friday.

Dr. Cady Short-Thompson is the seventh president in the university's history. She was welcomed into office during an investiture ceremony in Truist Arena at NKU's Highland Heights campus.

Dr. Cady Short-Thompson, our seventh and first woman president, has completed the three I's of inauguration!Thank you to all the alumni, community partners, friends, faculty, staff and students who joined us for this inspiring university tradition. pic.twitter.com/ajAtG50VXk
— Northern Kentucky University (@nkuedu) April 26, 2024

"I am ecstatic to return home to NKU, where my professional journey began, and to give back to the people and place that invested so fully in me," Short-Thompson said. "NKU's values of excellence, engagement, student-centeredness and belonging are deep in me and I am eager to serve alongside NKU's talent faculty, staff, students and alumni to lead this great institution."

She was a professor of communication, graduate program director and department chair at NKU from 1996-2010.

Short-Thompson most recently served as CEO and executive director of Breakthrough Cincinnati, an educational nonprofit that serves high-need, high-potential middle and high school students in preparation for college and careers. She previously served as Provost at Hope College from 2017-2021.

"After a few months getting to know the job, the ceremony was the opportunity to let others see the university through her unique lens," Rich Boehne, Chair of the Board of Regents, said in a news release. "The university's community is immense, diverse and rapidly evolving, but the president sets the tone and establishes the pace."

Short-Thompson was also the Dean of the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College from 2010-17.

NKU has more than 15,000 students on its campus near Cincinnati.