Northern Kentucky University announces 7th president
Northern Kentucky University's Board of Regents voted unanimously Wednesday to appoint Cady Short-Thompson as the institution's next president. She will start Oct. 2.
“NKU’s values of excellence, engagement, student-centeredness, and belonging are deep in me and I am eager to serve alongside NKU’s talented faculty, staff, students, and alumni to lead this great institution forward. I love NKU and believe that it is entirely fitting that my first and final positions will be here," Short-Thompson said in a Wednesday press release.
Short-Thompson is the university's seventh president. And she's no stranger to Greater Cincinnati.
Short-Thompson comes from Breakthrough Cincinnati, where she's served as CEO and executive director for several years. Breakthrough Cincinnati is a nonprofit education organization that focuses on providing college preparatory programs for middle and high school students and trains college students to be teachers.
Before joining Breakthrough Cincinnati, Short-Thompson spent 25 years in higher education. She served as provost and professor at Hope College and as dean of University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College. From 1996 to 2010, Short-Thompson worked at NKU as a professor of communication and department chair.
"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 in the press release.
Short-Thompson joins the university after an extensive search. Ashish Vaidya, the university's sixth president, had signed a contract in 2021 to serve through 2027. But in his separation agreement with the university, signed last fall, NKU agreed to pay him roughly three years of salary to leave early.
Vaidya and the university announced his departure was a mutual decision. The agreement included a nondisclosure clause and Vaidya agreed not to sue the university, the board of regents or other university representatives. Both Vaidya and the university agreed not to "make any disparaging statements, oral or written, to anyone concerning or in any way relating to" each other.
Bonita Brown has served as interim president since January. When she took the interim role it was made clear by the board that she would not be eligible to apply for the full-time position. Now, Brown is stepping back into her former role as vice president and chief strategy officer.
“Cady’s experience in leading organizational transformation during times of dramatic external change make her a great choice for NKU in 2023 and the years to come," Board Chair Rich Boehne said. "It’s also a huge added advantage that she knows well our campus community and the region, and she in fact credits mission-driven NKU for building the foundation of her career in higher ed leadership.”
Brown will help with the transition once Short-Thompson begins in her new role Oct. 2.
“Bonita Brown deserves much credit for the progress we’ve made across the university during this timebetween permanent presidents,” Boehne said. “Being an effective interim is every bit as challenging as being the permanent president and Bonita has done an outstanding job. We owe her a huge thanks.”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Northern Kentucky University appoints Cady Short-Thompson as president
