ANNOUNCER: TONIGHT ON SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR, PRESIDENT OF NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY, CADY SHORT-THOMPSON.

STAY TUNED, SHOWCASE STARTS RIGHT NOW.

[MUSIC] KELLAR: HI, I'M BARBARA KELLER.

WELCOME TO SHOWCASE.

WE HAVE A REALLY WONDERFUL, INTERESTING BEAUTIFUL GUEST TO TODAY.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THANK YOU.

KELLAR: CADY SHORT THOMPSON, WHO IS, CAN WE SAY NEW-ISH?

NEW-ISH.

KELLAR: NEW-ISH, PRESIDENT OF NKU.

OUR BELOVED NKU, RIGHT ACROSS THE RIVER.

SO WELCOME TO SHOWCASE.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THANK YOU.

KELLAR: WE WANT TO HEAR ALL ABOUT YOU.

AND SO LET'S START.

TELL US HOW YOUR CAREER SORT OF SEGUED INTO THE PRESIDENCY.

SHORT-THOMPSON: ABSOLUTELY.

SO, I WAS EDUCATED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, GRADUATED WITH MY PHD, AND CROSSED THE RIVER TO BECOME A FACULTY MEMBER AT NKU IN '96.

FOR 14 YEARS I WAS A PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION THERE AND JUST LOVED IT.

I JUST REALLY LEARNED HOW TO BE A PROFESSIONAL AND A PROFESSOR THERE, GOT TO KNOW ALL SORTS OF STUDENTS, AND LOVED TEACHING UNDERGRADS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS, AND ALONG THE WAY LEARNED HOW TO LEAD AS A GRADUATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR AND A DEPARTMENT CHAIR.

AND THEN MY ALMA MATER, UC, CALLED ABOUT BEING A DEAN AT UC BLUE ASH.

AND I TOOK THAT OPPORTUNITY TO CROSS THE RIVER AGAIN AND SPENT SEVEN YEARS THERE.

AND THEN I ENDED UP GOING UP TO MICHIGAN AS A PROVOST, THE CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER AT A SCHOOL CALLED HOPE COLLEGE IN HOLLAND, MICHIGAN.

AND THEN SHORTLY THEREAFTER, AFTER FOUR YEARS UP THERE, I CAME BACK TO CINCINNATI AND I WAS LEADING A NONPROFIT FOCUSED ON EDUCATIONAL EQUITY.

THAT ORGANIZATION IS CALLED BREAKTHROUGH CINCINNATI, AND I WAS THERE FOR ABOUT TWO YEARS.

AND THEN THE PRESIDENCY OPENED UP AT THE SCHOOL WHERE MY CAREER BEGAN, AND I THOUGHT, I JUST HAVE TO APPLY.

KELLAR: YOU THOUGHT, "THIS IS ME."

SHORT-THOMPSON: IT IS THE JOB I'VE ALWAYS WANTED.

AND IT ALLOWED ME TO ESSENTIALLY GO BACK TO WHERE I STARTED, WHERE I LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT BEING A FACULTY MEMBER AND TEACHING AND VALUING EDUCATION AND STUDENT SUCCESS.

AND I JUST SORT OF PINCH MYSELF THAT THIS IS THE WORK THAT I GET TO DO AT THE END OF MY CAREER.

KELLAR: YEAH, WELL, YOU HAVE THE ENTHUSIASM AND CERTAINLY THE BACKGROUND TO DO A REALLY, REALLY GREAT JOB.

SO CURRENTLY GIVE US A LITTLE SYNOPSIS OF HOW THINGS ARE GOING AT NKU.

SHORT-THOMPSON: YEAH.

IT'S BEEN THE FASTEST EIGHT MONTHS OF MY ENTIRE LIFE.

I HAVE TRACK SHOES ON EVERY DAY, IT WOULD SEEM.

MY DAYS START EARLY AND THEY GO LATE AND THEY HAVE JUST THE MOST INTERESTING PEOPLE IN MY DAYS, ALL DAY LONG, EVERY DAY, AND I JUST COULDN'T BE ENJOYING IT MORE.

I REALLY FEEL LIKE I'VE HIT THE GROUND RUNNING THANKS TO THE SUPPORT OF A REALLY TALENTED TEAM AND LOTS OF JUST GREAT SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY, SUPER ALUMNI, MANY OF WHOM I TAUGHT.

THERE ARE ABOUT 3500 OF MY FORMER STUDENTS WHO ARE LIVING AND WORKING IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND GREATER CINCINNATI.

SO WE'RE OFF AND RUNNING AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS.

LOTS OF THINGS THAT WE'RE PRIORITIZING ARE GOING QUITE WELL.

KELLAR: YEAH, WELL, YOU DIDN'T HAVE THE PROBLEMS THAT SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE HAD COMING IN COLD FROM SOMEWHERE ELSE, NEVER BEEN HERE, NEVER LIVED HERE.

SO YOU KNEW ALL THE ROPES AND YOU KNEW SO MANY OF THE PEOPLE.

SO YOU HAD A GREAT START.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THANK YOU.

IT DOES FEEL A LITTLE LIKE I STARTED ON SECOND BASE, THAT I WAS ABLE TO REALLY HAVE A LAY OF THE LAND PRETTY QUICKLY.

I'D MISSED 13 YEARS.

I WAS AWAY FOR 13 YEARS.

SO I HAD A LOT TO CATCH UP ON, BUT SO MUCH OF THE CULTURE IS THE SAME, THE VALUES ARE THE SAME.

AND FRANKLY, JUST KNOWING THE REGION AND MY HOMETOWN HAS MADE IT MUCH EASIER TO GET ACCLIMATED.

KELLAR: YEAH.

HAS THERE BEEN A LOT OF GROWTH AT NKU SINCE YOU WERE THERE BEFORE?

SHORT-THOMPSON: YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE MORE STUDENTS THAN WHEN I LEFT.

KELLAR: HOW MANY STUDENTS ARE AT NKU?

SHORT-THOMPSON: THERE ABOUT JUST UNDER 15,000 STUDENTS.

AND WHEN I LEFT THERE WERE AROUND 12,000.

AND THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE IS THE MAKEUP OF THAT STUDENT BODY.

SO WE HAVE MORE GRADUATE STUDENTS THAN WE HAD WHEN I LEFT.

THERE ARE MORE ONLINE STUDENTS THAN WHEN I LEFT.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE ENROLLMENT MIX HAS CHANGED.

BUT REALLY, WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO WELL HAS REMAINED THE SAME.

WE CARE ABOUT STUDENTS.

WE'RE INVESTED IN THEIR LIVES.

IT FEELS LIKE A REALLY SMALL PLACE IN SO MANY WAYS, YET IT'S A PRETTY BIG SCHOOL.

SO I JUST THINK WE HAVE THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS AT NKU.

KELLAR: DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF -- CAN YOU BE A TOTAL ONLINE STUDENT?

SHORT-THOMPSON: YOU CAN.

KELLAR: YOU CAN?

NEVER LEAVE YOUR HOME?

SHORT-THOMPSON: IT'S TRUE, YOU CAN.

ABOUT A THIRD OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FULLY ONLINE, AND MANY OF THEM ARE GRADUATE STUDENTS.

AND TYPICALLY THEY'RE BALANCING THEIR ADULT RESPONSIBILITIES OF FULL TIME WORK AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE FAMILIES AT HOME, AND IT JUST ALLOWS THEM TO FIT IN THEIR DREAMS OF HIGHER EDUCATION INTO THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

KELLAR: YEAH, YOU SAY MOST OF THEM ARE GRADUATE STUDENTS.

SHORT-THOMPSON: IN ONLINE ARENA.

WE HAVE A HANDFUL OF UNDERGRADUATE ONLINE PROGRAMS, BUT WE'VE HAD FAR MORE OF AN INVESTMENT IN GRADUATE ONLINE.

KELLAR: YEAH, I WOULD THINK THAT UNDERGRADUATES WOULD WANT THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.

WHICH YOU WOULDN'T HAVE IF YOU WERE ONLINE.

AND IF YOU COULD, DOES IT -- WOULD YOU BE ENGAGED ALL DAY LONG OR JUST CERTAIN PERIODS OF THE DAY WHERE YOU COULD WORK?

SHORT-THOMPSON: SO ONLINE HAS REALLY CHANGED IN THE LAST 15 YEARS OR SO.

I MEAN, AT THE BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS THIS SENSE OF ALMOST RECORDED CLASSES AND WATCHING THINGS AND NOT VERY ENGAGING.

NOW IT'S JUST WITH TECHNOLOGY, IT'S CHANGED SO MUCH.

AND SO WE HAVE ASYNCHRONOUS CLASSES AND SYNCHRONOUS, WHICH MEANS, YOU KNOW, WHETHER IT'S TIME, YOU'RE DOING IT IN THE SAME TIME WITH STUDENTS OR IT'S AT A DIFFERENT TIME THAT YOU CAN DO ANY TIME.

AND WE HAVE ACCELERATED PACE CLASSES.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, MANY OF OUR STUDENTS HAVE REALLY FULL DAYS.

SO FOR EXAMPLE, THEY WORK ALL DAY AND THEN THEY GO HOME AND THEY JUGGLE THEIR FAMILY'S LIVES.

AND THEN MAYBE AT 8 OR 9 THEY CAN PICK UP THEIR STUDIES AND BE ONLINE TO STUDY.

AND SO WITH AN ASYNCHRONOUS CLASS, IT JUST MEANS YOU CAN DO IT AT ANY TIME.

AND SO THEY'LL PICK IT UP MAYBE IN THE EVENINGS OR EARLY MORNINGS OR THE WEEKENDS, ESSENTIALLY WHEN THE REST OF US WOULD DO ANY NUMBER OF OTHER THINGS.

RIGHT?

SO THEY'RE JUGGLING AND FITTING IT IN AS BEST THEY CAN.

AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT WE SEE THE MOST OF.

WE HAVE THESE FIVE AND SEVEN WEEK TERMS THAT ALLOW STUDENTS TO FIT IN A COURSE IN A WAY AND IN A PACE THAT THEY CAN HANDLE IT, WHICH IS, I THINK, A PRETTY COOL WAY TO LEARN IF YOU'RE JUGGLING A LOT OF ADULT RESPONSIBILITIES.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WHEN I FIRST ASKED YOU THAT, I WAS THINKING OF ONLINE.

WELL, I'M THINKING OF IT LIVE WHERE YOU'RE AUDITING A CLASS THAT'S IN PROCESS.

BUT NO, YOU'RE NOT.

YOU'RE JUST, LIKE, AT HOME, YOU CAN WATCH A RERUN, OR YOU CAN WATCH WHATEVER YOU WANT, WHENEVER YOU WANT.

SHORT-THOMPSON: IT'S LIKE STREAMING.

YEAH.

KELLAR: SO FOR SOMEONE WHO HAS TO HAVE A FULL TIME JOB, COME HOME, THAT'S PERFECT.

SHORT-THOMPSON: ABSOLUTELY.

IT ALLOWS THEM TO FIT IT ALL IN.

RIGHT.

KELLAR: SO YOU CAN MAKE YOUR FUTURE FAR MORE EASILY THAN IF YOU HAD TO BE AT A CLASS AT A CERTAIN TIME.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THAT'S RIGHT.

YEAH.

THE WORLD HAS REALLY CHANGED AROUND BEING STUDENT CENTERED AND THINKING ABOUT THE STUDENT AND WHAT THEY NEED COMPARED TO YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS IN SCHOOL, YOU WENT AT TUESDAY AND THURSDAY AT TEN IN THE MORNING, AND MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY AT NINE IN THE MORNING.

AND WE WERE THERE FOR MOST OF THE DAY.

NOW, I MEAN, QUITE LITERALLY, THESE ACCELERATED FORMAT CLASSES, THEY CAN PICK UP TIME OVER THE WEEKEND.

THEY CAN GET AHEAD MAYBE IF THEY NEED TO, THEY CAN TAKE A WEEK WHERE THEY DON'T DO ANY OF THEIR STUDIES AND PICK UP WHERE THEY LEFT OFF.

IT'S MUCH MORE STUDENT CENTERED THAN IT USED TO BE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

BECAUSE WE WERE -- YOU HAD -- YOU WERE THERE OR IT WAS YOU WEREN'T THERE.

SHORT-THOMPSON: EXACTLY.

KELLAR: IT WAS NOTHING.

YEAH.

IT'S A NEW WORLD.

SHORT-THOMPSON: IT IS.

KELLAR: TECHNOLOGY HAS MADE A NEW WORLD.

HOW WOULD AN ONLINE STUDENT INTERACT WITH THE PROFESSOR?

SHORT-THOMPSON: YEAH, SO THERE ARE LOTS OF DIFFERENT WAYS.

BUT FIRST OF ALL, THERE ARE SOME TIMES THAT THEY'RE INTERACTIVE, LIVE, SO SYNCHRONOUSLY.

SO A LOT OF TIMES THEY'LL HAVE POINTS WHERE THEY'LL CHECK IN WITH EACH OTHER VIA ZOOM OR ON A CALL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THEY ALSO HEAR FROM THE PROFESSOR.

OFTENTIMES THE PROFESSORS WILL RECORD THEIR OWN PRESENTATIONS OR LECTURES OR INTERACTIONS WITH THE STUDENTS IN ADVANCE SO THAT THEY CAN KIND OF GET A SENSE OF THEIR PROFESSOR FROM WATCHING THEM INSTEAD OF JUST READING THINGS, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO AND THE SAME IS TRUE FOR THE STUDENTS.

THEY'LL RECORD THEMSELVES ON OCCASION DOING PRESENTATIONS.

AND FRANKLY, THAT'S HOW MANY OF US WORK THESE DAYS IN ZOOM OR ON TEAMS.

SO MUCH OF WHAT WE DO IS WITH A SCREEN ANYHOW, SO IT'S NOT THAT DIFFERENT FROM SOME OF THEIR WORK DURING THE DAY TO INTERACT IN THAT WAY REMOTELY OR IN A HYBRID FASHION?

KELLAR: YEAH.

WHAT GRADUATE PROGRAMS DO YOU HAVE?

SHORT-THOMPSON: YEAH.

SO OUR TWO MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS RIGHT NOW ARE THE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NURSING.

SO THE MSN PROGRAM.

IT'S HUGE.

KELLAR: NURSES, THEY REALLY NEED CERTAIN NURSES, RIGHT?

SHORT-THOMPSON: WE ARE GENERATING A LOT OF NURSES AT NKU, AND THAT IS ONE OF OUR BIGGEST.

KELLAR: WITH JOBS WAITING FOR THEM.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY TRUE.

AND THEN OUR MBA PROGRAM IS THE SECOND MOST POPULAR GRADUATE PROGRAM.

SO LOTS AND LOTS OF BUSINESS PEOPLE AND LOTS OF ATTENTION TO HEALTH CARE.

KELLAR: YEAH.

WE HAVE HAD HERE AT THE STATION A LONG TIME A FABULOUS FRIEND, ALICE SPARKS.

DID YOU KNOW ALICE?

SHORT-THOMPSON: SURE, SHE WAS A REGENT?

KELLAR: YEAH.

AND SHE WAS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD AT NKU.

AND SHE GOT THE SCIENCE BUILDING BUILT.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THAT'S RIGHT.

KELLAR: AND TELL US ABOUT THAT.

WAS THAT A NEW SCIENCE AND NEW INNOVATION FOR NKU OR JUST THE FACILITY WAS?

SHORT-THOMPSON: SO WE'VE HAD SCIENCE SINCE OUR BEGINNING, BUT I WILL SAY THAT ALICE SPARKS IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PIONEER AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

SHE WAS ACTUALLY A REGENT WHEN I WAS A FACULTY MEMBER THERE, AND REALLY QUITE A FORCE OF NATURE IN SO MANY WAYS.

SO MANY PEOPLE STILL HAIL HER NAME AND POINT TO THE INFLUENCE AND IMPACT SHE HAD.

BUT THE SCIENCE CENTER IS ONE EXAMPLE OF MANY THINGS THAT WE DO REALLY WELL.

40% OF OUR PROGRAMS, OUR GRADUATES ARE IN THE STEM FIELDS OR STEM PLUS H, WE CALL IT.

SO THAT SCIENCE BUILDING THAT WAS BUILT MANY YEARS AGO.

WE'RE ACTUALLY ABOUT TO ADD ON TO IT WITH A 90,000 SQUARE FOOT ADDITION.

THAT'S HOW IMPORTANT THAT THAT FACILITY IS.

IT NEEDS TO GROW TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE REGION.

YOU KNOW THAT MANY, MANY JOBS ARE IN STEM AND THEN MANY ARE IN HEALTH.

AND SO OBVIOUSLY, HEALTH CARE MAJORS REQUIRE A LOT OF STEM CLASSES OR SCIENCE CLASSES IN ORDER FOR THEM TO GET THE BASICS TO PURSUE THEIR DEGREES.

SO SHE HAD A BIG IMPACT, AND WE'RE STILL BUILDING UPON IT.

KELLAR: I TOLD HER I THOUGHT THEY SHOULD HAVE NAMED IT AFTER HER, BECAUSE I KNEW THAT SHE WAS THE ONE, THE ONE WHO ACTUALLY GOT IT DONE.

SHE KNEW EVERYBODY.

SHE HAD FRIENDS IN ALL PLACES.

SHORT-THOMPSON: I QUITE LITERALLY STILL HEAR HER NAME ON A REGULAR BASIS.

SHE'S A PERSON WHO HAD A GREAT IMPACT ON THE UNIVERSITY.

KELLAR: WHAT PROGRAMS, DO YOU DO ANYTHING TO FILL THE NEEDS OF BUSINESS?

FOR INSTANCE, IF BUSINESS SAYS TO YOU WE NEED MORE PEOPLE IN SUCH A SUCH A FIELD, DO YOU HAVE CONVERSATIONS LIKE THAT?

SHORT-THOMPSON: ABSOLUTELY.

SO WE WORK REALLY CLOSELY WITH THE REGION TO REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT ARE THE TALENT NEEDS THAT WE HAVE.

AND AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, WE HAVE QUITE AN ISSUE RIGHT NOW IN MEETING THE WORKFORCE DEMANDS, BECAUSE FRANKLY, IN 2008, A LOT OF BABIES WERE NOT BORN.

AND AS A RESULT, WE HAVE FAR FEWER GRADUATES AND EMPLOYEES IN THIS REGION, AND FRANKLY, THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

SO WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD TO ALIGN WHAT ARE THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS IN THE WORKFORCE WITH WHAT ARE OUR STUDENTS PURSUING IN TERMS OF THEIR DEGREES AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE RECRUITING HEAVILY FOR THOSE FIELDS.

AND I OFTEN SAY TO OUR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES AS THEY'RE COMING TO VISIT CAMPUS, THAT YOU CAN COME TO NKU TO LEARN AND THEN STAY IN THIS REGION TO EARN, BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY FANTASTIC JOBS RIGHT HERE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND GREATER CINCINNATI.

THEY'RE ALL JUST WAITING FOR THEM TO BE FILLED.

AND SO WE CAN'T CRANK OUT OUR GRADUATES QUICKLY ENOUGH.

AND I WOULD SAY IN HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION, INFORMATICS, IN OTHER WORDS, IT AND CYBERSECURITY, THOSE SORTS OF AREAS, THERE'S SUCH A HIGH DEMAND THAT WE COULD RECRUIT PROBABLY 10,000 MORE STUDENTS A YEAR AND PLACE THEM ALL.

KELLAR: I KNOW YOU'RE INFORMATICS COLLEGE IS SORT OF A FORERUNNER.

TELL US ABOUT THAT.

SHORT-THOMPSON: YEAH.

SO THE COLLEGE OF INFORMATICS STARTED IN ABOUT 2004 AND HAS BEEN REALLY A DISTINCT OFFERING AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A CUTTING EDGE AREA WHERE EVERYTHING FROM COMPUTER SCIENCE TO THE SCHOOL OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION, YOU KNOW, THERE'S BUSINESS INFORMATICS, HEALTH INFORMATICS, AND FRANKLY, IT'S THIS NEXUS OF INFORMATION AND CONTENT, AND IT'S REALLY BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF MEETING THE SORT OF NEEDS OF THE DIGITAL ERA.

KELLAR: WHICH IS A LOT.

SHORT-THOMPSON: IT'S INCREDIBLE.

AND SO NOW CYBERSECURITY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, THE COLLEGE OF INFORMATICS IS LEADING THE WAY.

SO THAT WAS ACTUALLY A REALLY A LEAN FORWARD FOR THE UNIVERSITY MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.

I MEAN, IT WAS 20 YEARS AGO.

AND IF YOU LOOK AT JUST HOW MANY JOBS RIGHT NOW HAVE THESE COMPONENTS IN THEM, WE WERE REALLY AHEAD OF OUR TIME.

WE'RE REAL LEADERS IN THAT AREA.

KELLAR: YEAH.

ANOTHER GREAT FRIEND OF CET, ELLEN RIEVESCHL FIRST TOLD ME ABOUT THE COLLEGE.

AND I TALKED TO THE PRESIDENT AT THAT TIME, WHICH I CAN'T REMEMBER.

SHORT-THOMPSON: JIM VOTRUBA.

KELLAR: YES.

AND HE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

AND SHE IS VERY PROUD OF THAT.

SHE HAS REMINDED ME SEVERAL TIMES HOW WHAT A FORERUNNER THAT WAS.

SO DO OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE IT, JUST NOT VERY MANY?

SHORT-THOMPSON: SO OTHER SCHOOLS HAVE SOME VERSION OF IT NOW.

BUT FRANKLY, THEY LAGGED ABOUT A DECADE BEHIND US.

AND YOU'RE QUITE RIGHT THAT ELLEN RIEVESCHL WAS VERY GENEROUS WITH THE DIGITORIUM.

AND MANY OTHERS IN THE REGION UNDERSTOOD THE NEED AND SAW THE VISION THAT JIM VOTRUBA HAD ALL THOSE YEARS AGO.

AND FRANKLY, IT HAS REALLY BEEN A REMARKABLE ADDITION.

AND GRIFFIN HALL IS A PERFECT BUILDING FOR IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE VISITED THE CAMPUS AND SEEN IT, BUT IT'S A REMARKABLE SPACE.

IT REALLY IS THE EMBODIMENT OF THE VISION OF INFORMATICS.

AND SO I THINK A NUMBER OF SCHOOLS HAVE STARTED TO CATCH UP IN TERMS OF ANALYTICS OR INFORMATICS.

THEY ALL CALL IT A LITTLE SOME- THING DIFFERENT, DATA SCIENCE.

BUT ALL THESE FIELDS ARE REALLY STARTING TO POP UP, AND A LOT OF STUDENTS ARE INTERESTED IN THOSE FIELDS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS WHERE WE'RE HEADING.

KELLAR: TO GET GOOD JOBS.

SHORT-THOMPSON: CORRECT.

KELLAR: THAT'S WHAT SOMETIMES I THINK OF SOME, NOT AT NKU, BUT OTHER SCHOOLS WHERE THEY HAVE COLLEGES THAT TEACH THINGS THAT ARE SO IMPRACTICAL FOR LIFE.

AND YOU THINK, WHAT ARE THOSE KIDS ACTUALLY GOING TO DO?

WHERE IS THERE GOING TO BE A JOB FOR THEM?

AND PROBABLY NOT IN THE AREA IN WHICH THEY'RE GRADUATING?

SHORT-THOMPSON: YEAH.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING TO DO AT NKU IS CREATE A NEW HUB SO THAT OUTSIDE BUSINESSES AND ORGANIZATIONS CAN COME TO ONE PLACE AND TELL US WHAT THEY'RE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF INTERNS OR CO-OPS OR FOLKS WHO ARE ABOUT TO GRADUATE OR EVEN TO PARTNER WITH FACULTY FOR RESEARCH AND THAT SORT OF THING.

BUT ONE OF THE POINTS I'D LOVE TO MAKE IS THAT WE'LL ALSO HAVE THESE SPOKES THAT ARE IN THE COLLEGES SO THAT FOLKS WHO ARE GETTING SOCIAL SCIENCE DEGREES OR HUMANITIES DEGREES, THEY HAVE REALLY INCREDIBLE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE, AND THEY ACTUALLY SOMETIMES MAKE THE PERFECT HIRES FOR BUSINESSES TO BUILD WELL-ROUNDED TEAMS.

BUT A LOT OF TIMES, OUTSIDERS DON'T KNOW WHERE TO COME OR, YOU KNOW, WHAT THOSE DEGREES MIGHT HAVE TO OFFER.

BECAUSE, AS YOU KNOW, A WELL-ROUNDED TEAM USUALLY MAKES THE BEST PROGRAMS, MAKES THE BEST SERVICES, AND SOLVES PROBLEMS THE BEST.

SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT JUST OFFERING AN EASIER TO NAVIGATE SYSTEM FOR OUTSIDERS TO FIND TALENT.

KELLAR: YEAH.

DO YOU DO RECRUITING TO GET MORE STUDENTS?

YEAH, YOU HAVE RECRUITERS.

SHORT-THOMPSON: YEAH, WE HAVE A WHOLE TEAM.

OUR ADMISSIONS OFFICE IS INCREDIBLE.

WE HAVE REALLY TALENTED RECRUITERS WHO GO OUT INTO THE HIGH SCHOOLS.

THEY GO TO CAREER FAIRS.

THEY GO TO ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT PLACES TO FIND ALL DIFFERENT AGES AND STAGES OF STUDENTS, BOTH HERE IN THIS REGION AS WELL AS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THEY'RE REALLY TALENTED.

THEY'RE VERY RELATIONAL.

THEY'RE GOOD AT ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE AND MAKING IT CLEAR, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE THE ASSETS OF THE UNIVERSITY AND HOW IT MIGHT BE A GOOD FIT FOR THEM?

KELLAR: YEAH.

DO YOU -- WHAT WOULD YOU -- I KNOW YOU JUST BARELY GOTTEN THERE, I MEAN, YOU'RE DOING LOTS OF THE FUNDAMENTAL THINGS, I'M SURE.

BUT DO YOU SEE ANY CHALLENGES THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FACE?

SHORT-THOMPSON: YEAH, SO WHEN I ARRIVED, THE UNIVERSITY HAD BEEN IN A DEFICIT FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND SO JOB NUMBER ONE FOR THE BOARD, AS WELL AS MY CABINET AND FOR ME, IS TO WORK OUR WAY INTO THE BLACK TO BALANCE OUR BUDGET.

AND WE ARE WELL ON OUR WAY TO DOING THAT.

I'M REALLY EXCITED ABOUT OUR PROGRESS TO DATE.

KELLAR: THAT CAN HAPPEN TO THE BEST OF PEOPLE.

SHORT-THOMPSON: ABSOLUTELY.

COVID REALLY THREW A NUMBER OF UNIVERSITIES CHALLENGES, WHETHER IT WAS NOT HAVING HOUSING, YOU KNOW, OCCUPIED OR NOT, HAVING DINING HALLS FULL, NOT HAVING FOLKS IN THE PARKING LOT.

SO A LOT OF DIFFERENT REVENUE STREAMS, THEY CHANGED QUITE A BIT.

AND SO NOW, YOU KNOW, WE'RE WORKING REALLY HARD AND FAST TO BUILD OUR WAY OUT OF THAT.

AND FRANKLY, WE'LL BE THERE THIS YEAR.

WE'RE ALSO WORKING JUST TO GENERATE NEW AND DIFFERENT ENROLLMENTS AND, YOU KNOW, STARTING TO REBUILD A DIFFERENT ENROLLMENT MIX, TRYING TO GET MORE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS IN PERSON, RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS, BECAUSE WE GOT AWAY FROM THAT A LITTLE BIT IN COVID.

A LOT OF PEOPLE STAYED HOME AND WANTED TO LEARN REMOTELY.

AND I MEAN, AS YOU KNOW, THE WORLD CHANGED A BIT OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

SO WE'RE JUST NOW BUILDING BACK AND FINDING OUR NEW NORM AT THE UNIVERSITY.

AND THERE'S JUST A LOT OF POSITIVE MOMENTUM AT NKU RIGHT NOW.

KELLAR: WE WERE TALKING EARLIER ABOUT, I SORT OF THINK OF MY LIFE AS BEFORE COVID AND AFTER COVID, BECAUSE IT WAS A MONUMENTAL CHANGE.

SHORT-THOMPSON: ABSOLUTELY.

KELLAR: IN EVERYBODY'S LIFE.

NOBODY, NOBODY WAS UNSCATHED ABOUT -- SHORT-THOMPSON: AROUND THE WHOLE WORLD.

KELLAR: IN SO MANY WAYS.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE -- I WOULD THINK THAT PART OF YOUR, MAYBE PART OF YOUR CHALLENGE IS TO PROVIDE SOME SORT OF COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, SO TO SPEAK, SO THAT THERE'S SOME CAMARADERIE AND THEY'RE NOT JUST COMING FOR A CLASS.

AND DO YOU HAVE A LOT OF DORMS AND RESIDENTIAL STUDENTS?

SHORT-THOMPSON: WE DO.

WE HAVE A LOT OF RESIDENTIAL HALLS, AND WE'RE REBUILDING THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THEM.

WE OFFER A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS TO ENGAGE WITH ONE ANOTHER.

WE HAVE GREEK LIFE AND WE HAVE ATHLETICS.

YEAH, WE HAVE DIVISION 1 ATHLETICS AS WELL, AND THAT BRINGS A LOT OF -- KELLAR: GOOD BASKETBALL TEAM?

SHORT-THOMPSON: FANTASTIC BASKETBALL TEAM AND GREAT BASEBALL TEAM THAT JUST WON OUR HORIZON LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP JUST A WEEK AGO.

WE'RE SO PROUD OF THEM.

AND SO, I MEAN, THOSE SORTS OF THINGS REALLY ENGAGE STUDENTS, BUT WE HAVE THE WHOLE ARRAY OF WHETHER IT'S LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES OR ACADEMIC CLUBS, YOU NAME IT, WE HAVE IT.

KELLAR: YEAH, BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE I WENT TO UC, AS YOU KNOW, IF YOU LIVED IN THE CITY AND YOU STAYED AT HOME, IT WAS CALLED A STREETCAR SCHOOL.

SHORT-THOMPSON: SURE.

KELLAR: BUT THE SOCIAL THE FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES REALLY SERVED A PURPOSE OF MAKING YOU FEEL LIKE YOU WERE A PART OF THIS SCHOOL, EVEN THOUGH YOU WEREN'T A RESIDENT OF THE SCHOOL.

AND THAT AND FOOTBALL GAMES AND BASKETBALL GAMES AND ALL OF THAT STUFF, I THINK IS PART OF A WONDERFUL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE.

AND NOT EVERYBODY CAN DO THAT IF THEY'RE, YOU KNOW, A ZOOM STUDENT.

BUT I DO THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S HAPPENING ON A REALLY GOOD AND, LIKE, THEATER.

I KNOW YOU HAVE A REALLY GOOD THEATER PROGRAM.

SHORT-THOMPSON: AMAZING.

KELLAR: YEAH, I'VE HAD THOSE KIDS ON SHOWCASE.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS IS AMAZING.

KELLAR: YEAH.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THOSE TALENTED STUDENTS, THEY JUST WOW US EVERY TIME THEY'RE ON STAGE.

I AM ALWAYS MOVED BY THE IMMENSE TALENT THAT THEY SHOW AND THEIR COMMITMENT TO ALL THAT THEY DO AND DO SO WELL.

IT'S REALLY FUN TO BE ON CAMPUS.

THERE'S SO MANY OPTIONS OF WHAT TO DO.

AND MY HUSBAND AND I GO TO MANY OF THEIR DIFFERENT EVENTS.

WE JOKE THAT OUR EMPTY NEST CAME ABOUT A MONTH BEFORE I LANDED THIS POSITION, AND THEN WE FILLED IT WITH 15,000 NKU STUDENTS AND ALL THEIR ACTIVITIES.

AND WE'RE JUST -- IT'S SUCH A TREAT TO BE A PART OF THEIR LIVES.

I MEAN, I JUST MET THIS MORNING WITH A STUDENT WHO'S, YOU KNOW, LOOKING AT COMING HERE TO PLAY SOCCER AND JUST TO THINK ABOUT, "I'LL GET TO WATCH THOSE GAMES AND CHEER ON THAT STUDENT."

AND WE JUST FIND OURSELVES REALLY ENTHRALLED IN ALL OF IT AND ENGAGED IN ALL OF IT.

AND IT'S JUST A WONDERFUL ENVIRONMENT TO LIVE AND WORK AND PLAY.

KELLAR: YEAH.

SO YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS.

SHORT-THOMPSON: YOU BET.

KELLAR: I THINK THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

SHORT-THOMPSON: IT'S WHY WE WORK, BARBARA.

IT'S THE BEST PART OF THE JOB.

I MEAN, WHEN I THINK ABOUT MY DAYS, THEY'RE FULL OF ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE, DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS.

BUT USUALLY MY DAY ENDS WITH STUDENTS.

STUDENT EVENTS IN THE EVENING, PRESENTATIONS, THEIR GAMES, THEIR PERFORMANCES.

AND IT JUST ALWAYS REMINDS ME WHY I WORK SO HARD AND IT IS SUCH A DELIGHT.

I MEAN, THEY'RE JUST SUCH A JOY.

KELLAR: AND I KNOW WHAT A THRILL IT IS FOR THE KIDS WHEN YOU'RE THERE.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THANK YOU.

KELLAR: THAT'S REALLY, REALLY IMPORTANT.

IT MAKES THEM PROUD TO THINK -- I'VE, YOU KNOW, I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI MANY, MANY, MANY YEARS AGO.

WALTER LANGSAM WAS THE PRESIDENT.

I'M SURE HE WAS A FINE.

I NEVER LAID EYES ON HIM.

SHORT-THOMPSON: SURE.

I THINK THAT'S SAD WHEN -- AND I DON'T CARE HOW BIG THE SCHOOL IS, THE PRESIDENT NEEDS TO MAKE HIMSELF VISIBLE SO THAT THE KIDS HAVE THAT VISION IN THEIR MIND, "WELL, THIS GUY IS IN CHARGE.

THIS IS MY ALMA MATER.

THIS IS MY SCHOOL."

AND I THINK PART OF THAT IS SEEING THE LEADER AND KNOWING THAT YOU'RE -- AND I KNOW YOU'RE A GREAT ONE.

SHORT-THOMPSON: AWW, THANK YOU.

KELLAR: YOU'RE DOING A GREAT JOB WITH THAT.

SHORT-THOMPSON: IT'S REALLY FUN TO SEE THE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS.

I OFTENTIMES WALK TO MY NEXT MEETING ON CAMPUS, AND STUDENTS WILL COME OVER AND TALK WITH ME AND TELL ME HOW THINGS ARE GOING.

AND OFTENTIMES, THEY'LL TAKE SELFIES WITH ME AND JUST REALLY TELL ME WHAT'S GOING WELL OR SOMETIMES THEY TELL ME WHAT THINGS COULD BE BETTER.

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST REALLY APPRECIATE BEING INVOLVED IN THEIR LIFE.

AND THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT JUST THAT YOUTHFUL AMBITION, THEIR ALTRUISM AND IDEALISM, IT JUST NEVER GETS OLD.

IT'S THE BEST JOB IN THE WORLD.

KELLAR: AND REALLY KEEPS YOU GOING AND IT GETS YOU MOVING.

SO DO YOU HAVE ANY NEW PROGRAMS THAT YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT?

SHORT-THOMPSON: SURE.

SO THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING THAT ARE NEW AT THE UNIVERSITY.

WE HAVE A NEW MINOR IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.

IT IS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST IN THE NATION, AND THERE ARE LOTS OF FOLKS THAT ARE INTERESTED IN ROUNDING OUT THEIR EDUCATION WITH AN EXPERTISE AND UNDERSTANDING OF AI AND HOW IT WILL IMPACT THEIR WORK.

KELLAR: I NEED TO GO TO THAT ONE, BECAUSE I DON'T GET IT.

SHORT-THOMPSON: ANOTHER EXAMPLE IS WE NOW HAVE A MINOR FOR MILITARY AND VETERAN STUDENTS THAT WILL GIVE OUR MILITARY AND VETERAN FOLKS THE CREDIT HOURS FOR A MINOR, 21 HOURS, FOR THEIR MILITARY SERVICE TIME THAT THEY HAVE PUT IN.

AND IT RECOGNIZES THEIR SERVICE AND THEIR LEADERSHIP.

AND WE ALSO HAVE A NEW PROGRAM IN OUR ADMISSIONS AREA THAT'S CALLED A DIRECT ADMIT.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS THAT MANY STUDENTS IN THIS REGION WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY DIRECTLY ADMITTED IF THEY HAVE A 2.75 GPA OR ABOVE, AND THAT IT TAKES OUT THE APPLICATION PROCESS AND THE FEES, AND IT ALLOWS THEM TO MOVE MUCH MORE SWIFTLY THROUGH THE PROCESS, AND THAT WILL BEGIN THIS FALL.

KELLAR: YEAH, THAT'S A GREAT IDEA.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THANK YOU.

KELLAR: BECAUSE I THINK THAT PROCESS IS SO INTIMIDATING THAT A LOT OF KIDS WHO MAYBE DIDN'T COME FROM A PARTICULARLY EDUCATED FAMILY AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO MANAGE ALL THAT.

I THINK THAT WOULD BE A REALLY GREAT INCENTIVE FOR THEM.

SHORT-THOMPSON: WE HAVE ABOUT 40% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS.

AND I DO THINK THAT WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW FROM YOUR FAMILY, I THINK SOMETIMES YOU QUESTION WHETHER YOU'RE READY.

AND I THINK WHEN THIS PROGRAM BEGINS AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF STUDENTS WHO MAY NOT BE SURE, THEY'LL SUDDENLY BE SURE THAT THEY ARE WELCOME AT THE UNIVERSITY AND THAT THEY CAN THRIVE WITH US AT NKU.

KELLAR: YEAH.

DO YOU HAVE ANY GOALS FOR THE FUTURE?

SHORT-THOMPSON: YEAH.

KELLAR: WHAT ARE THEY?

SHORT-THOMPSON: YEAH.

SO WE'RE DEFINITELY WORKING ON ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT AND BUILDING OUR ENROLLMENTS AND BUILDING THE ENROLLMENT MIX TO BE ESSENTIALLY WHAT THE REGION NEEDS IT TO BE, AND ALSO TO ALIGN IT REALLY WELL WITH THE PROFESSIONAL NEEDS OF THE REGION TO BUILD THAT IN PERSON, EXPERIENTIAL COLLEGE EXPERIENCE THAT WE JUST TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT, REALLY TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S AS VIBRANT ON CAMPUS AS IT CAN BE, TO MAKE SURE THAT THE WHOLE REGION SEES NKU AS ITS UNIVERSITY, A PLACE WHERE WE OFFER THINGS THAT THEY SHOULD BE A PART OF, WHETHER IT'S COMING TO GAMES OR COMING TO SCHOOL OF THE ARTS PERFORMANCES.

I MEAN, NKU IS SO MUCH TO OFFER, NOT JUST FOR OUR STUDENTS AND FOR OUR FACULTY AND STAFF, BUT FOR THE WHOLE REGION.

AND SO JUST TO BECOME A PLACE WHERE FOLKS KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS GOING ON, AND FRANKLY, JUST BUILDING THE UNIVERSITY INTO WHAT IT NEEDS TO BE FOR THE FUTURE.

THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT PROFESSIONS THAT ARE JUST NOW SHAPING UP AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE ALWAYS LOOKING OVER THE HORIZON AND MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE READY FOR WHAT'S COMING AND GETTING HEALTHY AND VIBRANT.

AND I THINK THAT'S A FULL DAY'S WORK, REALLY, FOR US FOR A WHILE.

KELLAR: DO YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO GO TO HIGH SCHOOLS AND TELL YOUR STORY?

SHORT-THOMPSON: YEAH, FOR SURE.

SO OUR ADMISSIONS TEAM DOES A GREAT JOB OF GOING OUT AND REGULARLY MEETING WITH, YOU KNOW, JUNIORS AND SENIORS IN OUR REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOLS.

WE HAVE SUCH GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR DIFFERENT SUPERINTENDENTS AND PRINCIPALS AND TEACHERS, MANY OF WHOM GRADUATED FROM NKU AND ARE REPRESENTING US WELL EVERY DAY IN THE WORK THEY DO.

AND WE HAVE LOTS OF DIFFERENT SCHOOL-BASED SCHOLARS WHO ARE EARNING DUAL CREDIT.

AND OUR YOUNG SCHOLARS ACADEMY IS ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH A SCHOOLS IN THE REGION WHERE THEY'RE COMING TO US AND LEARNING FROM US AS JUNIORS AND SENIORS IN HIGH SCHOOL AND GETTING DUAL CREDIT THE FULL TWO YEARS AND GRADUATING WITH TWO DEGREES AT ONCE, A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND AN ASSOCIATE'S DEGREE.

IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.

KELLAR: OUR DAN VERSEY HERE HAS HIS DAUGHTER IS IN THAT PROGRAM.

SHORT-THOMPSON: IS THAT RIGHT?

KELLAR: SO I'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT.

THAT IS A FANTASTIC IDEA.

SHORT-THOMPSON: IT'S A DIFFERENCE MAKER.

I MEAN, YOU THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT HALF OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE IN LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND THAT TWO YEARS OF THEIR COLLEGE EDUCATION IS ACTUALLY ALREADY ACCOMPLISHED BY THE TIME THEY'RE GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL.

IT'S A BIG DEAL.

KELLAR: WHEN I FIRST HEARD ABOUT IT, I THOUGHT, "WOW, IS THAT A GREAT RECRUITER, AS WELL AS LOTS OF OTHER REASONS," BUT.

SHORT-THOMPSON: IT REALLY PREPARES THEM TO SUCCEED.

WHAT'S REALLY WONDERFUL IS BY THE TIME THEY THEN FINISH THEIR LAST FEW YEARS WITH US, IT IS JUST THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO, THEY KNOW THE ENVIRONMENT, THEY KNOW HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

AND THE RESEARCH TELLS US, BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN AT THIS FOR A FEW YEARS, THAT THEY REALLY OUTPERFORM THOSE WHO WERE NOT IN THIS PROGRAM BECAUSE THEY JUST HAVE LAY OF THE LAND, THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO.

AND WHETHER THEY STAY WITH US OR WHETHER THEY GO ELSEWHERE, THEY'RE SUCCESSFUL.

AND THAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT.

KELLAR: YEAH, YOU'RE HAPPY FOR THEM WHEREVER THEY GO BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE GOING TO SAY, "WELL, I LEARNED THESE GREAT SKILLS AT NKU."

SHORT-THOMPSON: EXACTLY.

I ALWAYS THINK EDUCATED FOLKS, THAT'S EVERYONE'S GOAL.

I'D LOVE FOR ALL OF THEM TO STAY WITH US, BUT FRANKLY, ALL OF US JUST WANT STUDENTS TO HAVE THE DEGREES THAT THEY NEED FOR THEIR BIG, BRIGHT FUTURE.

KELLAR: WELL, I KNOW YOU HAVE CHALLENGES AND I KNOW YOU'RE GOING TO MEET THEM.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THANK YOU.

KELLAR: BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE DYNAMICS AND THE HEART.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THANK YOU.

KELLAR: I THINK THAT BEING A COLLEGE PRESIDENT, THAT IT TAKES THAT BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO REALLY CARE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE KIDS.

IT'S NOT JUST CUT AND DRIED, "WELL, WE'LL HAVE THIS PROGRAM AND THIS MANY PROFESSORS OR WHATEVER."

BUT I THINK IT HAS TO BE SOMEONE WHO REALLY CARES.

AND YOU'RE THE GREAT -- YOU'RE A GREAT LEADER.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THANK YOU, BARBARA.

KELLAR: AND I KNOW THE KIDS WILL ALWAYS BE PROUD THAT THEY WERE THERE WHEN YOU WERE THE PRESIDENT.

SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING.

SHORT-THOMPSON: THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

IT'S BEEN A DELIGHT.

KELLAR: OKAY.

ANNOUNCER: JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER EPISODE OF SHOWCASE WITH BARBARA KELLAR RIGHT HERE ON CET.

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