New NKU president determined to increase enrollment, dig out of $9.6 million deficit

There's a newfound energy and excitement on Northern Kentucky University's campus. And there is no doubt it's sparked by Cady Short-Thompson's appointment as the first female president in the university's more than 50-year history.

"There are people in the community who will learn by my example that this kind of role, this level of leadership, is possible," she said.

The NKU Board of Regents unanimously voted to name Short-Thompson as its next president in mid-September. Short-Thompson was chosen out of a pool of more than 90 applicants. She officially starts in the role at the beginning of October, when she'll hit the ground running towards two goals: getting more students enrolled in on-campus programs and digging the university out of its $9.6 million deficit.

But until then, Short-Thompson is basking in the satisfaction of coming home.

NKU was Short-Thompson's first stop as an assistant professor after she obtained her Ph.D. from the University of Cincinnati. She was 27 at the time, full of confidence and optimistic that one day she'd land here, as NKU's president.

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In her first few years as a young professional she worked closely with James Votruba, who was university president from 1997-2012. Feeling brazen on the night in 2007 when Votruba presented her with the Frank Sinton Milburn Outstanding Professor Award, she told him: "I want your job."

She laughs at that memory now, remarking that it may have been a bit obnoxious. But there's no denying Short-Thompson worked hard to get to where she is now − back on the campus where her career began.

"My leadership abilities and ambitions developed here at NKU," she said. "I had several colleagues who would say, 'Cady, someday you'll be the president of NKU.' And as a 27-year-old, hearing that, it seems far off. And yet, strangely, I thought it was possible."

The university will pay Short-Thompson a base annual salary of $400,000 with the potential for a yearly $100,000 performance bonus, according to her contract. She's also getting $25,000 in moving expenses. She has six months to pack up her current home in Cincinnati's Wyoming suburb and relocate somewhere in Northern Kentucky.

Short-Thompson and her husband, Steve Thompson, recently turned empty nesters with the youngest of their three children now a freshman at UC. She said she's not sure yet which Northern Kentucky neighborhood they will end up in. But she's a fan of the river views that showcase Cincinnati's skyline.

Short-Thompson will focus on growth at NKU after success at UC Blue Ash College

Short-Thompson has spent nearly three decades in education, working at Hope College, UC and NKU. Most recently she served as CEO and executive director for Breakthrough Cincinnati, a nonprofit that provides college preparatory programs for middle and high school students and encourages college students to become educators.

Taking over as president of NKU, Short-Thompson hopes to draw on her successful tenure as dean of UC Blue Ash College. She started there in 2010.

A typical dean focuses solely on academics, she said. But leading the regional campus, and all of the extra responsibilities that came with that, gave Short-Thompson a test run in what it would be like to be at the helm of a university.

And she thrived.

"The college had so many talents and great things going. But it was sort of a sleepy environment because, I think, in part, interim leadership. And just unrealized ambitions," she said. "When I arrived I think that they were excited because they saw someone who could take a lot of their ambitions and ideas, and execute."

For starters, she changed the name of the college from Raymond Walters College to UC Blue Ash College. That helped rebrand the institution more closely with UC and positioned it to be marketed geographically. She also led several renovation projects at UC Blue Ash, including a $60 million overhaul of Muntz Hall, the oldest building on campus.

She attributes much of her success at the regional college to the strong team she built there.

"We grew enrollments from 4,000 to 5,500 in a few years. We grew from almost no fundraising to significant fundraising, of millions. We grew the size of the faculty and staff, also, to serve the students," she said. "In every metric, we grew and we improved."

Short-Thompson has similar goals for NKU.

NKU wants more students on-campus, financial stability

One of her first challenges in her new role will be recruiting and retaining more on-campus students. While online school is a great option for some students, Short-Thompson said there's nothing like an in-person college experience.

And NKU has room for more in-person students, she said.

"There's something that happens when you're on a college campus. The life of the campus. Making your best friends. Being engaged in student organizations and clubs," she said. "There's a long list of things that, frankly, I know from experience that I benefited from."

The other challenge will be better handling the university's finances − which is closely linked to enrollment management, Short-Thompson said. Tuition and state appropriations are based in part on enrollment.

Financial stability is key to providing top-notch education and experiences for students, she said. But it might take some time to get there − and possibly raises in college tuition, though Short-Thompson said she hopes to avoid that as much as possible.

"We did not find ourselves in this particular position in a week. So it will take more than a week to get out of it," she said.

Corey Best, spokesperson for the university, said NKU is on track to have a balanced budget by fiscal year 2025.

Short-Thompson doesn't have specific markers set, yet, for her enrollment and financial goals. Those will come after she spends more time with her new team and gets acclimated as president.

Her appointment has brought hundreds of messages from former students and colleagues from when she worked at NKU 13 years ago. It's been overwhelming, she said, in the best way.

"What you'll find with me is that I am a person of great passion and energy and belief in people. And so it is a treat, I mean, it is just such a privilege for me to return home and be a part of this community again. And to have the ability to reconnect with people who I genuinely love, who I am invested in," she said. "It's just personal, for me."

Short Thompson's first day as NKU president is Oct. 2.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Northern Kentucky University president to focus on enrollment, budget