01/12/26 - Welcome back! Kicking off the spring 2026 semester

Dear colleagues,

Welcome back! I hope you all had a relaxing winter break and were able to spend a lot of quality and memorable time with your loved ones. I am so thrilled to be back, and I hope you are as well!

It was less than a month ago that we celebrated the graduation of more than 1,500 new NKU alumni and now we begin again in our important work of guiding the Class of 2026 and all our students toward their dreams and fulfilling futures.

I am also very excited by the latest stories in the January 2026 issue of NKU In View, which was just published today. Among the stories is a feature on University Connect and Persist, led by Peg Adams, where students can address academic, financial and personal needs as they navigate their college experience.

 And that is not all. Here are a few more highlights from NKU In View:

• Alumna Johanna “Hanna” Thompson will never forget the first day of her volunteer trip with Haiti Air Ambulance on August 14, 2021 — the same day Haiti was hit by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake. At the time, she was also a student in Northern Kentucky University’s online health sciences program. Read more.
• Northern Kentucky University student and filmmaker Camilo Idrobo describes his award-winning short “Cross the Valley” as an “avant-garde dream film.” The electronic media and broadcasting student, who graduates in May, is now making the rounds of international film festivals. Read more.
• Dr. Deborah Amend, an assistant professor of special education, and her longtime friend Jennifer Petry launched the Cincinnati Adaptive Music Camp nearly 15 years ago after realizing they both were trying to find ways to adapt music instruction for their children with significant physical disabilities. Read more.

That is only a small sample of the great things happening at NKU, and as always, we have a lot to be excited about here as we continue with our important work for our students and our region.

And as we get back to work, there are some location changes our community should be aware of, including some important office moves, as we continue to renovate and improve our campus.

• The Office of the Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences: Math Education Psychology Center 401
• College of Arts & Sciences Advising: Math Education Psychology Center 489
• Office of Interdisciplinary Studies: Math Education Psychology Center 478
• Department of World Languages and Literatures: Math Education Psychology Center 491 (Only a room-number update)
• Department of English: Griffin Hall 504
• Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement: Griffin Hall 358

Finally, just a brief reminder that now is a great time to make your support for NKU heard by your elected officials. As I mentioned last week in my legislative update, please take a moment to visit the Invest in KY Success website and send a message in support of NKU. And if you live in Ohio or Indiana but work in Kentucky, please still contact representatives using your business address. This is so important.

And now, here we go! I am proud to work with each of you, and you have my best wishes for a great semester. Thank you for all you do.

All my best to each of you,