Meet the Educational Outreach Staff
Staff at Highland Heights:
Vicki Culbreth, Executive Director, has worked at NKU since 2005 and has helped grow the Educational Outreach department and assists our adult students in achieving their goal of completing a degree. Their stories inspire her and make her do "what it takes" to make that happen! Vicki has a Master of Business Administration degree from Thomas More College. She definitely has her hands full and is taking her own advice about continuing education by pursuing her Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Indiana State.
Debbie Poweleit, PACE Associate Director, has been with NKU since 1991 having started in the Office of Admissions. She joined the newly formed department in 2002 to coordinate NKU's first online degree program. She now provides development and student support for all of NKU's online and off-campus programs for adult learners. Debbie will do what it takes to assist students in making their dream a reality. Debbie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Mount Saint Joseph College. She enjoys time with her family and jogging.
Kristen Lovett, Online Learning Associate Director, joined NKU in early 2009. She is focused on marketing online programs and implementing the NKU Guidelines for instructional course design, as well as providing support to our students. The highlight of her day is insuring the students are on their way to higher education. She teaches as an Adjunct Professor in courses such as Organizational Leadership, Operations Management, Marketing Research, Diversity in the Workplace, and developed coursework before coming to NKU full time. Kristen holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Thomas More College and an Executive Master's Degree in Business Administration from Sullivan University in Lexington. She enjoys family time, reading, and boating in the summer.
Sandi Cunningham, PACE Advisor, joined the Educational Outreach department in 2006 having worked for 28 years in the Office of the Registrar. Having all that experience, Sandi is instrumental in assisting our students in the registration process - from advising to graduation! She loves seeing the excitement in the adults students as they return to college. Sandi has a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from NKU. Being a history buff, Sandi enjoyed reading books about World War II. Sandi enjoys taking care of and being "mom" to all of her cats.
Natalie Nickol, Online Learning Coordinator, came to NKU in 2001 and works closely with our students in pursuing their educational dreams. Nat is the person behind the scenes assisting with the day-to-day operations enrolling students into our online programs. She is our "guru" when it comes to learning software and programs. She graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree from Thomas More College. At her leisure, Nat enjoys riding motorcyles in the Grant County area!
Diana VonHagel, PACE Coordinator, joined our staff in 2006 and looks after the PACE program by providing on-site support for our PACE students and faculty, with the goal of making everyone’s contact with the program a positive experience. She loves leading students and new applicants through the admission and registration process Diana is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership degree at NKU Her favorite musician is her husband!
Jeff Fox, School-Based Scholars Coordinator, is a 2006 graduate of Northern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and a minor in Professional Writing. He also received his Master’s Degree in Communication in December of 2008. In his position as the School-Based Scholars Coordinator, he works to bring college courses to local high schools. He also teaches CMST 101, Public Speaking at NKU as an Adjunct Professor. Jeff spent six years in the airline industry and enjoys related research in organizational and crisis communication.
Student Staff at Highland Heights
Roman Ridder, has worked within Educational Outreach since May of 2007. He assists with daily operations of the office. Roman is in his third semester of nursing school and has been a student at Northern Kentucky University for four years. He is set to graduate in the Spring of 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Roman hopes to find himself working at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. A Master's degree in Nursing isn't out of the question either. In his free time, Roman enjoys spending time with his close friends, reading, attending low-key concerts, running, and finding wormholes to connect him to other galaxies; but only on the weekends.
Danielle Weires, is a junior Business Administration major. She graduated from Oldham High School in 2006 and has been with Educational Outreach since August of 2008. Her main duties include providing direct assistance to the Executive Director and the School-Based Scholars Coordinator. She will graduate from Northern Kentucky University in the spring of 2010 and plans on moving back to the South to start her career. In her free time, Danielle loves spending time with her family, learning to play guitar, and playing with her 75-pound puppy.
Staff at the NKU Grant County Center:
Betsy John Jennings, Director, Grant County Center, has worked at NKU since 1978 -- can you believe it?! -- and has directed extended campus operations since 2004. She is a career counselor by training and holds a Masters of Education in Counseling degree from Xavier University. Through her current position, Betsy links NKU with the community and promotes the NKU Grant County Center through programs at schools, clubs, Chamber of Commerce, local cable TV, radio and newspaper ads. In addition, she plans the course offerings and connects students to main campus services at the Grant County Center. Did you know she plays the cello and sings in her church choir?
Connie Lawrence, Grant County Center Secretary, joined the NKU staff in 1998 and is currently the secretary at the NKU Grant County Center. She provides support to staff and assists students at the NKU Grant County Center. Duties include, but are not limited to, telephone operator, greeter, secretarial duties, hostess, photographer, plumber, computer repair and snow removal. In other words, whatever it takes to “get the job done!” Connie loves to watch students grow in knowledge and confidence, and to become a vital part of society. Ask her about Tom Selleck if you want to see her smile.
