HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Northern Kentucky University (NKU) welcomed Cady Short-Thompson, its seventh and first female president, Friday with an inauguration. NKU trustees, faculty, students and alumni gathered at the Truist Arena to celebrate.

What You Need To Know

  • Cady Short-Thompson becomes the seventh president of Northern Kentucky University

  • She is the institution's first female president

  • She has a 25-year career in higher education, recently serving as provost and professor at Hope College and dean of the University of Cincinnati's Blue Ash College

Students said they couldn’t be prouder of their new president.

"I think it's great that NKU finally has a female president, and I think that there's no better choice than Cady Short-Thompson," said first-year student Coleman Neely. 

"I'm actually very excited," student Raina Taylor added. "I think it's really important to have female representatives in our educational system." 

This is after the university announced Short-Thompson would serve as its seventh president in Sept. 2023.

"I know that many of you will agree with me when I say, it's time," she said. 

Before serving as president, Short-Thompson had a long career in education as a professor and dean. She also served as CEO and executive director of Breakthrough Cincinnati, a nonprofit focused on educational equity.

At the inauguration, there were live performances from students and a few speeches from past presidents welcoming her into the role.

"My hope, ladies and gentlemen, is that years from now, President Cady Short-Thompson can look back and say these were the most satisfying and productive years of her professional life," said James C. Votruba, NKU's fourth president. 

She promised to uplift all students of NKU and the commonwealth as she took her oath. 

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