Program, Alumni, and Student Awards

Emily Kitzmiller North (MPA 2018) was recognized as the American Heart Association's Woman of Impact in Greater Cincinnati and featured in TIME Magazine’s Women of Impact issue! The image is TIME's collage of Women of Impact from around the country, including Emily (lower left) who is the Marketing & Internal Communications Manager at The Christ Hospital Health Network. The Woman of Impact initiative is part of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement to save more women’s lives from cardiovascular disease, which is the leading cause of death for them. You can learn more from the video and article at this link.

Morgan Peterson (MPA 2023) was selected as one of the 40 Under 40 awardees by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM-USA). According to the IAEM-USA web site, the 40 Under 40 award is "a symbol of excellence and a testament to the remarkable achievements and hard work of the next generation of emergency management professionals who are making significant strides in their careers and positively impacting their communities and emergency management as a whole." You can learn more about the award and recent winners here.

Chris Moriconi (MPA 2018), City Administrator for Independence, Kentucky, has been selected as Administrator of the Year by the Northern Kentucky City/County Management Association (NKCCMA). You can read more about Chris's leadership, the City of Independence, and NKCCMA in this Northern Kentucky Tribune article.

Kyle Dorriere and Sydney (Gebka) Humphrey both were recipients of NKU’s staff awards! Kyle is an Academic Advisor in NKU’s College of Arts and Sciences, and he was selected as this year's Outstanding Instructor of UNV 101: Orientation to College & Beyond. Sydney is a First-Year Career Advisor in NKU Career Services, and she was honored with the 2025 Regents Distinguished Service Award. Both awards are well-earned and well-deserved!  

Congratulations to all those recognized at the Wise Women celebration at NKU! A number of nominees came from the MPA program and supporters of the MPA in the College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) and Graduate Programs:

Shamima Ahmed – MPA

Julie Olberding – MPA

Missy Gish – MPA

Bethany Bowling – CAS Dean

Sheena Brooks – Graduate Programs

Kimberly Zink – Graduate Programs

The Wise Women of NKU campaign is a recognition given to students, faculty, and staff members to honor their vast contributions to NKU and is celebrated throughout Women’s History Month. Special thanks to MPA student Lesley Webster for organizing the 2025 Wise Women campaign!  

Twelve MPA students and alumni were inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA) Honor Society at the MPA Spring Banquet. Congratulations to Trevor, Michael, Kelli, Jeanett, Miles, Nathan, Juli, Joe, Shayla, Lesley, Jennifer, and Chris! PAA membership identifies and recognizes individuals with "the highest performance levels in educational programs preparing them for public service careers."

Trevor Bonar (MPA student) was selected for a 40 Under 40 award from the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The IACP awards program recognizes "the top rising leaders from around the globe, exemplifying leadership, dedication, and service to their communities and the law enforcement profession." Congrats to Trevor for receiving this prestigious global recognition and also for being promoted to Police Sergeant in the City of Bellevue, Kentucky!  

Trevor's bio on the IACP's web site includes the following language: "Exemplifying hard work, dedication, and selfless service to others, Officer Trevor Bonar is a role model to all he works with.... He strives to continuously learn new things and volunteer for new opportunities. Currently pursuing his Master of Public Administration, Officer Bonar has leveraged his education on grant writing to help his own department write and submit grants, such as the one they recently put forward related to body-worn cameras and updated storage programs."

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Chris Lauer (2024), a Captain with the Campbell County Police Department, was selected for the King Leonidas Award ...for the third time! This prestigious award recognizes a Northern Kentucky SWAT officer who demonstrates exemplary performance in academic achievements, physical fitness, and marksmanship. Congrats, Captain Lauer!

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This year, not only one of our MPA students but three of them(!) were awarded scholarships to attend the Kentucky City/County Management Association's Winter Conference in Lexington, KY. The KCCMA scholarships pay for conference registration, hotel accommodations, and meals ... allowing students to attend who would not otherwise do so. Congratulations to Mallory Bane, Michael Frazier, and Luke Price!  

The KCCMA conference consists of various sessions where these MPA students learned about important and timely topics such as cyber security in local governments, the new statewide medical cannabis program, and legislative updates from the Kentucky League of Cities. In addition, Mallory, Michael, and Luke had the opportunity to meet and network with city and county managers from across the commonwealth. 

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Sam Shelton and Kayla Lowe were each honored with the Public Service Student award at the ASPA-GCC Outstanding Public Service celebration on October 22nd.

Sam is pursuing his Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree at NKU, along with the Nonprofit Management certificate, Community and Economic Development micro-credential, and Arts Administration micro-credential. For his Capstone project, Sam is working with the Emancipation Heritage Center, which a new nonprofit organization formed to preserve an historic African-American church in Augusta, Kentucky. Currently, Sam works for the City of Fort Thomas, Kentucky, where he manages city events and assists with economic development.

Kayla joined the NKU MPA program in 2023, and she immediately immersed herself in all events and activities – such as the inaugural Public Service Career Day – to learn as much as possible about being an effective and ethical public service professional. Currently, Kayla is a Career Tech Pathway Specialist with Cincinnati Public Schools. She supports students with disabilities and English as a second language, along with those who may need an alternative pathway for graduation.  

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Paula Brehm-Heeger (MPA NKU 2016), Executive Director of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library, was selected by the Cincinnati Business Courier as a C-Suite Award Honoree. This recognition is for "top-level executives whose leadership skills and business acumen have driven strong results for organizations across Greater Cincinnati." Paula joins an impressive group of "chiefs" on this list -- CEOs, COOs, CFOs, etc. -- including Nathan Smith, who currently serves as chair of Northern Kentucky University's Board of Regents.  

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The President’s Fall Convocation at Northern Kentucky University was held in August and, Dr. Julie Olberding was one of the speakers, as the Frank Sinton Milburn Award recipient. Dr. O welcomed faculty and staff back to the new academic year with a talk about their significant work of mentoring and preparing the next generation of city and county managers, nonprofit executives, health-care professionals, teachers, social workers, lawyers, creatives, and others. (Of course, there was a shout out to the MPA program, faculty, and staff!)  

One of Dr. O’s nominators for the Milburn award said the following: “Dr. Olberding’s impact on her discipline will be long lived through her research, her service to others, and her dedication to her students. She has made her community better. Through her service and work, she has had meaningful impact on the lives of so many, it is difficult to measure.”

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Congratulations to Kayla Lowe for being selected as the 2024 MPA Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Scholarship recipient! Kayla graduated from Northern Kentucky University in 2015 with a major in Psychology and a minor in Communication Studies.  

Currently, Kayla is a Career Tech Pathway Specialist with Cincinnati Public Schools. In this role, she works with students with disabilities and English as a second language, along with those who may need an alternative pathway for graduation. Kayla creates community partnerships within the region to ensure students are equipped with the tools needed in career fields such as public safety, culinary arts, and agriculture.  

In her "free time," Kayla has served as a board member for: Cincinnati Urban Promise, which provides education and empowerment programming to youths from birth through high school; and Generation NOW, which provides networking, mentorship, and career training to young professionals.

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Lanora Godfrey was selected as the 2024 Distinguished Alumna and was the guest speaker at the Spring Banquet. Congratulations, Lanora!

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The 2024 MPA student award recipients were celebrated at the MPA Spring Banquet. P.J. Ginty (left) was selected for the Outstanding Student, and Matt Jaksetic (right) was selected for the Distinguished MPA Graduate. Congrats to both of them!

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Anson Turley (MPA 2022, BA 2019) received the 2024 NKU Political Science, Criminal Justice and Organizational Leadership Distinguished Alumnus Award! He was the guest speaker at the awards ceremony in April where he spoke about his professional and academic pathways with students and faculty in our Department of Political Science, Criminal Justice, Organizational Leadership, and International Studies.  

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Congratulations to Dave Moore (MPA 2006), Nancy Moore, and Africa Fire Mission (AFM)! They were selected for this year's Impact Award from the International Society of Fire Service Instructors for their dedication to serving firefighters in Africa. Dave and Nancy accepted this well-deserved award at the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC) in Indianapolis. As you may know, Dave and Nancy founded AFM in 2012 "to increase the sustainable capacity of fire departments in developing communities" through training, empowerment, support, and encouragement. You can learn much more at their web site.

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Trevor Bonar (MPA student) was selected for the first-ever Officer of the Year award by the City of Bellevue, Kentucky! Officer Bonar was recognized for his exceptional work in a drug trafficking case and, more generally, for his dedication, preparedness, and willingness to go above and beyond.  

Photo on the left: Chief Jon McClain of the Bellevue Kentucky Police Department congratulates Officer Bonar while Mayor Charlie Cleves claps (credit: LINK nky). Photo on the right: Close-up with the Officer of the Year award (credit: Northern Kentucky SWAT).

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Allyn Reinecke (MPA 2013) was selected as a finalist for the Next Generation Leader Awards (NGLA) by the Northern Kentucky Young Professionals (NKYP), which is part of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.  

Currently, Allyn serves as the Community Services Manager in the Human Services Department in Campbell County Fiscal Court. This department oversees the distribution of payroll tax funds that support mental health, intellectual disability, and aging services provided by a broad range of community partners. Beyond this role, she has organized the Campbell County Citizens’ Academy, which is a free nine-week educational program available to all county residents and business owners.

The NGLA program recognizes "YPs ages 40 and under for significant professional accomplishments, demonstrated leadership, and community impact." The finalists were honored at a special event on Thursday, July 11, at the Madison Event Center in Covington.

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Bill Fischer (1999) has retired after decades of service in the Greater Cincinnati region, most recently as Vice President of Commercial Development at The Port - Cincinnati. His outstanding career and positive impacts have been celebrated in various ways recently, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from Invest In Neighborhoods and a proclamation of "Bill Fischer Day" from the City Of Cincinnati Government. Congrats and thanks, Bill!  

You can learn more about Bill's retirement and other happenings at The Port in their most recent online newsletter.

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This year, a number of our students and alumni have been selected for Next Generation Leader Awards (NGLAs) by the Northern Kentucky Young Professionals (NKYP), which is part of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. These awards recognize "YPs ages 40 and under for significant professional accomplishments, demonstrated leadership, and community impact."

We congratulate and applaud "our people" for being selected for 2023 NGLAs!  

• Amy Martin (MPA student): Assistant Director at the Northern Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy.
• Amanda Meeker (MPA 2015): Director of the Career and Experiential Education Center at Mount St. Joseph University.
• Tyler Gabbard (Nonprofit Management Certificate 2017): Director of Theatre at The Carnegie.

More information here.

Scott Smith (NKU MPA 2012) was honored with an Upstander Award from the Holocaust & Humanity Center (HHC). Scott serves as the City Administrator and Police Chief in The City of Ludlow, KY, and the award recognized his community-centered approach to policing and his teaching de-escalation techniques to police officers.

Founded by Holocaust survivors in Greater Cincinnati, the HHC "inspires and develops upstanders who exemplify the best of humanity today." Its Upstander Awards recognize people who "harness their character strengths to meet their moment and pursue justice, both great and small, inspiring others to do the same." This year's awards ceremony was emceed by award-winning journalist Katie Couric.

According to this LINKnky article, Scott said, “I am honored that people in the community of Ludlow and the Northern Kentucky area believe I am doing right by them and I hope to keep continuing to represent them and the city in a positive way.”

Lisa Desmarais (NKU MPA 2012) was recognized as the Judith Clabes Lifetime Achievement Honoree, which is part of the 2023 Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky Awards. These awards are presented each year by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce.  

Lisa was selected for this lifetime achievement award based on her long record of service in the Northern Kentucky region. She recently served as Board Chair of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System (KCTCS), which has 16 colleges across the state with 70+ campuses and 97,000 students. Also, she held management positions in local government, including Director of Technology Services in Kenton County and Director of Finance and Operations in the City of Covington. On a more personal level, Lisa has served as an adjunct/part-time instructor in our MPA program.  

You can read more about the awards and honorees in this Northern Kentucky Tribune article.

 

 

James Mills was selected as the 2023 MPA Distinguished Graduate. As Police Chief in the City of Taylor Mill (Kentucky), James manages a staff of 13 full-time officers who serve about 7,000 residents and handle between 10,000 and 11,000 calls each year. The City has a crime rate that is well below the national average and one of the lowest in NKY.

A few contributions James has made to the Taylor Mill Police Department and its community include: maintaining (voluntary) National and State Law Enforcement Accreditation, instituting body-worn cameras, and advocating for the law enforcement exploring program for young people.

 

Morgan Peterson was selected as the 2023 MPA Outstanding Student. As Operations Manager with the Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency, Morgan is responsible for overseeing the Operations Department, coordinating with agency staff including internal and external partners, evaluating and updating systems and equipment, and engaging the operations center team through training and exercises.

In October 2022, Morgan managed the design and execution of the first cybersecurity exercise conducted to help Hamilton County and the southwest Ohio region be more prepared for a cybersecurity incident. This exercise was unique due to the amount of technical expertise required, the limited plans in place, and the inclusion of the entire region including six counties and the City of Cincinnati.

Amy Martin (MPA student) was selected for this year's MPA scholarship from the Northern Kentucky City/County Management (NKCCMA). The group presented the award to her at the group's monthly meeting in Crestview Hills.  

Amy started the MPA program in Fall 2022 with nearly 15 years of public service experience. Currently, she serves as Assistant Director of the Northern Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, which assists with substance-use policy initiatives, regional efforts, and advisory services to Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. Prior to that, she was Public Administration Specialist with the Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD) and a Special Assistant in Kentucky's Department for Local Government.

In the first photo on the left, Amy is pictured with Craig Bohman (MPA 2012) and Alex Mattingly. Craig is Villa Hills City Administrator and NKCCMA Scholarship Committee Chair, and Alex is Crestview Hills City Administrator and NKCCMA President. In the second photo, Amy and Craig are joined by: Angela Cook (MPA student, NKCCMA Scholarship 2021), Communications and Special Projects Manager at Sanitation District No.1; and Simon Boxall (MPA 2022), Public Administration Specialist at NKADD. A number of other MPA alums also attended the meeting!  

 

 

Emily Horseman (MPA 2008) has served as a Police Officer in the City of Villa Hills, KY, for more than five years. She was presented with an Honorable Service Award for her efforts to help a young man who was actively attempting to commit suicide. Officer Horseman said she was honored and happy to receive the award and, even more so, to learn the man is "still with us today."  

In the City of Villa Hills, Officer Horseman works with other NKU MPA alumni, including Police Chief Bryan Allen (2007) and City Administrator Craig Bohman (2012). Prior to Villa Hills, she worked in various public service roles, most notably in police departments in the City of Fort Thomas, KY, and at Kentucky State University.  

Kudos for the award, Officer Horseman! And thank you for your ongoing service to our communities and region!

 

 

The Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library was recognized with a Preservation Award from the Cincinnati Preservation Association (CPA). Congratulations to Executive Director Paula Brehm-Heeger (MPA 2016) and her team!  

Each year, the CPA's Preservation Awards recognize outstanding accomplishments in preservation activities in various categories. This year, the Institutional Rehabilitation award was given to the Walnut Hills Library, which is one of 41 branches/locations in the Cincinnati and Hamilton County library system.  

The CPA noted that the Walnut Hills Library "exemplifies the balance of providing upgrades and needs for a community while respecting and celebrating the historic building." The rehabilitation project doubled the size of the library to more than 20,000 square feet and upgraded the entrance and other public areas to full accessibility.  

Opened in 1906, the Walnut Hills Library was one of about ten libraries in the Cincinnati area built with funds from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. You can learn more about the library and its renovations from this WCPO 9 story.

 

Jill Settlemyre (NKU MPA 2019) was selected for Leadership Cincinnati, which is "the region’s flagship community leadership development program" organized by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. Jill has had a notable career in nonprofit management in the Greater Cincinnati region. Most recently, she's been serving as Executive Director of Cancer Family Care, Inc. for nearly 10 years.  

Another big recognition for Jill and Cancer Family Care was being selected for a Cancer Community Award – aka C2 Award. This national award honors "individuals and organizations catalyzing positive change in the lives of those affected by cancer."   

This year, the C2 Awards were granted to 12 finalists across the United States in five categories: Catalyst for Care, Catalyst for Change, Catalyst for Equity, Catalyst for Precision Medicine, and the President’s Award. Cancer Family Care was honored with the Catalyst for Care Award, based on an assessment by a panel of judges who are leaders in the oncology community.  

An article about the C2 Awards was recently published by Scientific American. It noted, "In the Greater Cincinnati area, Cancer Family Care annually provides professional, individual and family counseling and support to more than 4,000 children and adults dealing with a cancer diagnosis in the family." Here is a link to the full Scientific American article.

 

 

Robin (Bobbi) Brice was selected as an Educator of Excellence in Memphis, TN, by New Memphis. New Memphis is a nonprofit organization dedicated to forging a more prosperous and vital city by developing, activating and retaining talent.  

As you may know, Bobbi earned a Nonprofit Management certificate and Master of Arts in Integrative Studies (MAIS) degree at NKU in May 2021. She completed our PAD courses classes such as Managing Nonprofit Organizations, Resource Acquisition and Management, and Volunteer Management. In addition, she took a mix of classes in Education and Social Work toward her MAIS degree.

After her graduate studies, Bobbi moved to Memphis to work as an Inclusion Teacher/Special Education Teacher. In addition, she's taken on other roles advocating for educational equity for all students in public institutions. It's very impressive that Bobbi has had a big impact in Memphis in a relatively short time ... but it's not surprising if you know her.

 

India McCullough was selected as this year's recipient of the NKU MPA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship. India is a Residential Treatment Specialist at the Children's Home of Northern Kentucky. In May, she graduated from Thomas More University (TMU) with a bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Studies.  

As a student at TMU, India worked with club leaders on campus to host the TMUnited rally in September 2020. The rally was composed of student and staff speakers, poems, music, and a community of people from different  backgrounds and races coming together to promote unity. We look forward to the impacts India will have at NKU and in our region!

 

Congratulations to MPA student, Matt Jaksetic, who was selected for a 2022 Les Best Scholarship from the Ohio Civil Service Employees Association (OCSEA). Matt is currently a Planner with the Ohio Emergency Management Agency and joined the MPA program in Spring 2021. Click this link to read more about the scholarship and how Matt was chosen

We recently learned that Jennifer Holladay (MPA 2015) has been selected for the Milton J. Samuelson Career Achievement Employee of the Year by the National Industries for the Blind (NIB). Congrats and kudos, Jennifer!  

Jennifer has worked at the Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CABVI) for nearly 16 years. Most recently, she's been serving as Manager of Information and Volunteer Services. Each year, CABVI provides vision loss services to more than 4,000 individuals, audio access to print materials to nearly  13,000 listeners, and other related services.  

The Milton J. Samuelson award is one of the most prestigious honors granted to an individual by the NIB each year. This year's award will be presented to Jennifer at the NIB National Training Conference and Expo in October 2022 in Alexandria, Virginia.

Congratulations to Wade Williams (MPA 2001) for being recognized as a Top-50 Economic Developer in North America by Consultant Connect. Wade currently serves as Vice President of Global Business Development at REDI Cincinnati, which shared the good news via a press release.

According to the release, last year REDI Cincinnati helped secure more than 7,000 new jobs, $358 million in new payroll, and $755 million in capital investments in the region, thanks in large part to Wade’s efforts. These successes -- and other outcomes -- were key factors in Cincinnati being named as the No. 7 metropolitan area in Site Selection magazine’s Governor’s Cup Awards.

Lisa Desmarais (MPA 2012) was honored with this year's NKY Community Award presented by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Congratulations, Lisa, on this well-deserved award!  

Lisa has been serving as Board Chair of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS). This statewide system has 16 colleges, 70+ campuses, 97,000 students, and a $1 billion annual budget. Previously, she served as Director of Technology Services for Kenton County, Director of Finance and Operations for the City of Covington, and Executive Director of Family Promise of Northern Kentucky.  

The NKY Community Awards are presented to exceptional individuals and organizations that have made positive impacts in the region. Last year, the award was given to the Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD), which has been led by Lisa Cooper (MPA 1995) for more than 25 years. The Lane  Report recently published an article on the NKY Community Award and Lisa Desmarais's contributions to the region over the years. Read it here.  

Tom Haggard (MPA 2019) was featured in the Cincinnati Business Courier's series on Forty Under 40 winners. As many of you know, Tom is currently serving as Executive Director of the Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance. Here are some of our favorite responses to the Courier's questions:

• What’s the most recent experience you’ve crossed off your bucket list? "Being elected to the Covington Board of Education."
• You know it’s a good day when … "you’ve made a difference."
• What do you think is Cincinnati’s best-kept secret? "Covington!"
• What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? "Fill your mind with truth, your heart with love and your life with service."  

 

 

Two NKU MPA alumnae were recognized as Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky this year by the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Jennifer Steele (MPA 2010), CEO of Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY, has been selected as an Outstanding Women Honoree. Stacie Strotman (MPA 2015), Executive Director of Covington Partners, is the Helen Carroll Champion of Education Honoree. Congrats, Jennifer and Stacie!!!

 

Greg Kesterman (MPA 2015) was selected for the 2022 Distinguished MPA Alumnus Award and was honored at the virtual MPA Spring Celebration on Thursday, April 14. Congratulations, Greg!

Greg is the Hamilton County Public Health Commissioner and served in this position through the COVID-19 pandemic. He was the MPA Spring Celebration speaker and discussed insights and lessons learned during his public service career, particularly during the global pandemic.  

Tony Stieritz was selected as the 2022 MPA Distinguished Graduate!

As CEO of Catholic Charities of Southwestern Ohio, Tony leads and manages more than 70 employees and 900 volunteers in this nonprofit organization. Some significant contributions last year were: providing meals to 25,000 people, facilitating vaccines for about 400 migrants, providing multilingual mental health counseling to 350 clients, and helping 46 Afghan refugees resettle in our region. In addition, Tony helped secure $1.3 million in private, annual giving which is the largest amount on record for CCSWOH.  

“I can attest that [MPA] course content has guided me to implement logic modeling across all agency programs, investment in our volunteer services, statistical analyses of year-to-year donor trends and assessments of organizational behaviors. I am deeply appreciative for all the NKU’s faculty and staff have shared with me in four years.”

 

 

Michele Adams was one of two MPA Spring 2022 Outstanding Student Award winners! Michele co-created and implemented the Norse Skolars program to engage 500 at-risk high-school students (e.g., under-represented minorities, first-generation college students). During the summer after their senior year in high school and throughout their freshman year in college, she organized activities and provided one-on-one mentoring on managing time, budgeting funds, etc. One outcome was a retention rate of 74%, which is comparable to the overall retention rate at NKU and very noteworthy during the pandemic.  

 

Nick Bliven was also selected as an Outstanding MPA Student! As FUEL NKU Coordinator, Nick oversees the on-campus food pantry at NKU that serves a wide range of students. FUEL NKU began as a grassroots initiative to support a few students in need but has grown into a university-wide effort. Last year, the pantry provided food and hygiene products to more than 1,000 undergraduate students, which is about 10% of the entire undergraduate student population. It distributed more than 40,000 pounds of goods to students in need. Nick hoped to have a direct impact on NKU students and we think he is doing an outstanding job at FUEL NKU!  

 

Eight NKU MPA students and alumni were inducted into the Pi Alpha Alpha (PAA) Global Honor Society at the MPA Spring Celebration on Thursday, April 14. Congratulations to Michele, Simon, David, Corey, Greg, Haley, Julie, and Bailey!  

PAA membership identifies and recognizes individuals with "the highest performance levels in educational programs preparing them for public service careers."

David Plummer (MPA 2012) was named the 2021 City/County Manager of the Year by the Northern Kentucky City/County Management Association (NKCCMA). Congratulations, David!   

David has served as the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the City of Union, Kentucky for the past four years. In this role, he has helped with managing the city's rapid growth while maintaining dedication to its "small-town appeal." The city's population increased from about 200 residents in 1970 to about 7,400 in 2020.

According to a recent article in the Northern Kentucky Tribune, his "notable achievements" as Union's CAO include:

- overseeing a remodel of the City Building,

- managing four rounds of Small Business Grants totaling more than $225,000 during the COVID pandemic,

- securing commitment for the first mixed-use concept in the Town Center area, and

- facilitating conversations around the Union Promenade mixed-use development, which is expected to have 50 single-family homes and 300 apartments, along with office space and retail and dining establishments.  

Read more about David and his work in this NKY Tribune article.  

 

 

Congratulations to Deanna Hillard (MPA 2019)! Deanna was selected for the 2022 Rising Star Leadership Program in the YWCA Greater Cincinnati. The program was created to recognize, support, and empower younger women professionals in pursuit of excellence in their careers.  

In Fall 2021, Deanna began serving as Program Officer at Interact for Health, which is a nonprofit organization that promotes healthy living for people in Greater Cincinnati through grants, education, and policy. Previously, she was Senior Manager of Volunteer Engagement the National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society.

 

MPA student Abby Fritsch has been selected for the 2022 scholarship from the Northern Kentucky City/County Management Association (NKCCMA). Typically, this award is presented at an NKCCMA meeting, but it is being celebrated virtually this year due to the ongoing pandemic. Congratulations, Abby!  

As many of you know, the NKCCMA focuses on improving the quality of city and county government and services in our region. The group created this scholarship for NKU MPA students to help attract and support young professionals interested in pursuing careers in public service, particularly local government management.  

Abby already has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service in her early career. Currently, she is serving as Project Manager at the Community Health Alliance, which provides psychiatric services, employment programs, court outreach, homeless outreach, and more. Previously, she served as a Social Service Worker who investigated cases of child abuse and neglect and provided supportive services to families and children.

 

The Kentucky City/County Management Association (KCCMA) – the statewide local government group – awarded a scholarship to MPA student Pierce Turner for the group's annual conference in Lexington. The scholarship covered the conference registration fee, hotel accommodations, and meals. Congrats to Pierce, and thanks to KCCMA!  

This is a great opportunity for Pierce, who has been serving as Assistant to the City Administrator in Bellevue, KY, for about two years. He is also serving as the first President of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) student chapter at NKU. The ICMA maintains close ties to state-based associations of local government professionals, like KCCMA.

 

The Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD) was recently honored with the NKY Community Award from the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. Congratulations to Executive Director Lisa Cooper (MPA 1995) and the entire NKADD team!  

The NKY Community Awards are presented to exceptional organizations and individuals that have helped advance and/or promote the region. As many of you know, the NKADD is a collaboration of local leaders and staff who educate and empower communities by providing a range of services. These include senior centers and caregiver support for individuals and families, ethics oversight and disaster resiliency for local governments, and COVID relief loans and brownfield redevelopment for businesses.  

You can read more about the NKY Community Award and the NKADD here.

 

Congratulations to Bradley Dickerson (MPA 2018) and Haley Jacobs (MPA student) for receiving Kentucky Association of Housing Officers (KAHO) awards at the annual conference in November 2021.  

Bradley, NKU Coordinator for Curriculum and Training, was awarded the KAHO New Professional Award. Haley, NKU Assistant Residence Life Coordinator, received the KAHO Graduate Student Award.  

KAHO exists to provide opportunities of personal and professional growth for college and university housing and residence life officers. The purposes of KAHO include uniting professionals of public and independent institutions who have responsibility for residence life, housing and related support areas; cultivating high standards, professionalism, and ethical approaches; and serving as a liaison with other state and regional organizations and the international ACUHO I.

 

Stacie Strotman (NKU MPA 2015), Executive Director of Covington Partners​, is one of 19 people selected nationwide for the White-Riley-Peterson Afterschool Policy Fellowship at The Riley Institute at Furman​ University. During this 10-month fellowship, participants work closely with their networks "to build capacity, ensure statewide connectivity, and assist in advancing the public interest policy agenda of the network."  

This fellowship is another way that Stacie has been recognized for her leadership skills and her commitment to positive change. She is currently serving as Chair the Leadership Northern Kentucky Class of 2022, after being part of the Class of 2009. Leadership NKY is designed to help a diverse group of potential, emerging, and existing leaders enhance their understanding of our region and work collaboratively to improve it. More info here.

Tom Haggard (NKU MPA 2019) has been selected for a "Forty Under 40" award this year by the Cincinnati Business Courier. The annual awards program "recognizes young leaders and innovators in Greater Cincinnati." Congratulations, Tom!  

As many of you know, Tom is Executive Director of the Kentucky Out-of-School Alliance, which supports the development of quality afterschool and summer programs for young people in Kentucky. He also serves in an elected position, on the Board of Education for Covington Independent Public Schools.  

The Forty Under 40 celebration was held on Thursday, October 21 at PromoWest Pavilion at Ovation in Newport. A complete list of the 2021 award winners can be found here.

 

MPA student Corey Foister was selected for this year's W.D. Heisel Memorial  Scholarship. The scholarship, which amounts to $4,000, is awarded each year to  a public administration graduate student pursuing a career in local government management.  

The scholarship is named in memory of W. Donald Heisel, who is considered the “father of public administration” in Greater Cincinnati. It is managed by the Center for Local Governments (CLG), which has a mission of improving public service delivery by the cities, townships, and villages in this region.  

The Heisel Scholarship is an honor for the recipient because of the namesake's lifelong contributions to public administration and public service. Also, graduate students from numerous universities are invited to apply including NKU, Wright State, Dayton, UC, and Ohio State ... and only one student is selected each year.  

 

Morgan Peterson was selected as this year's recipient of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Scholarship in the NKU MPA program. Currently, Morgan is serving as Operations Manager at the Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. In this role, she utilizes a “whole community” approach to understand the unique needs of the populations that the agency serves with particular attention to vulnerable populations.  

Morgan engages residents, community leaders, government agencies at all levels, nonprofit organizations, the private sector, and faith-based organizations through surveys, community outreach events, and county profiles. The information collected is utilized to identify and analyze specific hazards and then develop response plans that address the needs of county residents, including vulnerable residents.

The NKU MPA program was selected for the 2021 Excellence in Career and Community Engagement award at Northern Kentucky University! We are very honored and grateful for this recognition, especially in light of the tremendous engagement work happening across our campus in various programs, departments, schools, etc.  

NKU created the annual Academic Affairs Awards program to reward academic units for excellent work as it relates to the university's strategic framework. The "Success by Design" framework focuses on three pillars of student success -- Access, Completion, and Career and Community Engagement.  

Many thanks to the Provost's office and to the Awards Selection Committee for their efforts this year! And congratulations to the other nominees and winners.  

 

Congratulations to Jennifer Steele (MPA 2010) for being recognized with the VUCA Leader Award from the Leadership Council for Nonprofits! VUCA stands for Vision, Understanding, Clarity, and Agility, and the award recognizes an early-career  leader in the Greater Cincinnati nonprofit sector who is positively impacting their organization and the community with these skills and abilities. As some of you know, Jennifer is the CEO of Meals on Wheels Southwest OH & Northern KY.

 

MPA student Angela Cook was selected for the Northern Kentucky City/County Management Association (NKCCMA) 2021 scholarship!  

Angela worked in the airline industry for 25 years before landing in public service. She currently serves as an Executive Assistant/Liaison for the Northern Kentucky Sanitation District No. 1 (SD1).  

The NKCCMA focuses on improving the quality of city and county government and services in our region. The group created this scholarship a few years ago to help attract and support young professionals interested in pursuing careers in local government management.

Congratulations to all at Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library including Executive Director Paula Brehm-Heeger (MPA 2016) for receiving noteworthy recognition on a couple fronts!

First, the Urban Libraries Council selected the Cincinnati and HamiltonCounty library for a 2020 Innovations Initiative award in the category of Civic and Community Engagement.  

This award recognizes the library's engagement efforts in 2019, which involved more than 3,000 community members through numerous activities including 41 listening sessions, 15 focus groups, and online surveys.  

In addition, the Library Journal designated the Cincinnati and Hamilton County library as a Five-Star Library for the eighth year in a row. It is one of only five libraries nationwide in its category to receive a Five-Star Library rating.  

Here are some links to stories in media and other outlets for those who want to learn more:  

Soapbox Media Article

Urban Libraries Article

Cincinnati Library Article

Congratulations to NKU MPA student Michele Adams for being selected as the sole recipient of the W. Donald Heisel Memorial Scholarship from the Center for  Local Government! It is truly an honor for Michele to be selected for this scholarship because a number of excellent students from the region apply for it each year.

This $4,000 scholarship was created for public administration graduate students seeking a career in local government management. It is named in honor of W.D. Heisel, who is considered the “father of public administration” in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Michele graduated in May 2020 from NKU with a major in Political Science and a minor in Social Justice, and she officially started the MPA program this Fall. As an undergraduate student, she got her first taste of public service as a Kentucky Senate Intern through NKU’s Future Leaders Internship Program (FLIP). Michele admired how the representatives and senators advocate for the people inside their districts. “It made me certain that one day I want to be a voice for others,” she said.

Her long-term career goal is to become chief administrative officer (CAO) in local government. She hopes to help communities thrive by channeling her passion, leadership skills, and ability to work with others.

A few years ago, MPA student Susan Landis and her husband founded Maslow's Army, a nonprofit organization with a mission to protect and serve people experiencing homelessness in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. Susan was selected for the MPA scholarship for diversity, equity, and inclusion.  

Maslow's Army is based on psychologist Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of human needs -- that is, people must meet basic needs such as food and water in order to work toward higher needs such as security and self-esteem. Every Sunday, the organization engages in street outreach to provide people with free access to meals, clean clothing, and hygiene products. The organization welcomes all individuals to serve and to be served.

Susan also provides peer support to people experiencing homelessness, mental illness, addiction, and alcoholism. These efforts are based on her educational background in social work -- including a BSW from NKU -- as well as her personal experience being homeless for a few years.

You may recall Maslow's Army getting involved in the City of Cincinnati's decision to evict people from a "tent city" on Third Street, initially giving them 72 hours to evacuate the area. Susan went to City Hall to advocate for more time, and she worked to have their belongings moved -- rather than thrown out -- and to connect them to resources such as homeless shelters and job training programs.

More recently, during the Covid-19 pandemic, Maslow's Army responded to the closing of some homeless shelters in our region by finding housing for more than 200 individuals, primarily in local hotels. In addition to housing, the nonprofit has made sure they have three meals a day, access to laundry, and referral to resources.

For her efforts with Maslow's Army, Susan was selected for a Woman of the Year award from the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Greater Cincinnati Foundation. She is one of the youngest women -- if not the youngest -- to receive the honor.

Tori Ames and her team in the Center for Telehealth at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center won a national award for the Top Telehealth Program for Pediatric Care. Congrats to all involved!

The Center for Telehealth serves children and families around the world using various technologies to remove geographic obstacles and provide access to education, consultations, and specialty care. For patients with chronic conditions, the remote monitoring program is used to reduce health-care visits and improve outcomes. Other patients can access care between in-person visits for occupational and physical therapy, audiology, and other services.

The Top Telehealth awards were presented during the 2020 Telehealth Innovation Forum, which is a conference for health-care leaders to share experiences, best practices, and insights. Topics at this year's conference included the transformation of telehealth due to COVID-19, recent developments in government policies and regulations, and innovative strategies to engage and support patients in telehealth services.

Colerain Township was selected for av 2020 Local Government Excellence Award from the ICMA - International City/County Management Association for the Quick Response Team (QRT) program. This innovative approach to drug overdoses was created and implemented by NKU MPA alumni -- most notably Dan Meloy (2002) and Frank Cook (2011). Congratulations to all involved!

For those who aren't familiar, a QRT is a first-responder unit that consists of a firefighter/paramedic, a police officer, and a substance-abuse counselor. The team responds to life-threatening overdoses and then follows up with counseling during the critical "recovery window," which is the few days after an overdose when people are more open to help. Studies have found that 70% or more of people involved with a QRT enter detox or other treatment programs.

Colerain's QRT program has been recognized with a number of other awards, and it's been replicated by agencies across the country. In response to this interest, Dan started a nonprofit organization called QRT National, which provides training and instruction to individuals and organizations. More information can be found at https://qrtnational.com/.

 

Brooke Duncan was selected as the 2020 Outstanding Student by the American Society for Public Administration's Greater Cincinnati Chapter (ASPA-GCC).

Brooke completed her final semester of our MPA program in May. Her capstone project involved researching, writing, and submitting grant applications to secure funding for Cincinnati’s Uptown Ecological Corridor within the Uptown Innovation Corridor. So far, one foundation has approved her grant application and fully funded it at $10,000.

While pursuing the MPA degree, Brooke has worked for Uptown Consortium Inc., which “brings local neighborhood, civic and institutional leaders together to focus on opportunities” in the five Uptown Cincinnati neighborhoods -- Avondale, Clifton, Corryville, CUF, and Mt. Auburn. Recently, she was promoted from Manager of Community Development to Director of Community Development.

In addition to graduate school and work, Brooke still makes time to volunteer, which is quite impressive. Her volunteer service includes: co-chair of the Southwest Ohio Economic Development Association (OEDA) Young Professionals, board member for the Short Vine Business Association, and panelist for the Millennial Women Conference. She also tutors students at South Avondale School and is an active member of Crossroads Church.

The Outstanding Student award is part of the Public Administrator of the Year Awards, which ASPA-GCC organizes each year. Award winners are usually recognized at a special luncheon in late April and during Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) in Cincinnati, but unfortunately, these events were cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since 1985, PSRW is celebrated during the first week of May to honor people who serve our nation as federal, state, and local government employees.

 

 

Mark Wendling (MPA 1992) was selected for the 2020 Distinguished MPA Alumnus Award.

Read more about Mark in this article.

 

Congratulations to Brian Lazor for being selected as the 2020 MPA Distinguished Graduate. He plans to graduate in December 2020.

Brian has been with the City of Mason, Ohio, for 16 years and is currently the Strategic Planning & Economic Manager. His economic development work includes assisting in retention management of Mason portfolio companies, providing concierge level service and development project management for existing and  potential Mason businesses, and managing strategic planning initiatives.

Brian is particularly excited about his work on the 400-acre Mason Research and Development (R&D) Park. He has led the long range program pre-development and ultimate site certification process for the R&D Park by working with business, engineering, and utilities partners, as well as with regional and state partners, and national site locations consultant representatives to collect over 500 data points, environmental reports, and other pertinent information.

Brian said, “It is exciting that this work has helped facilitate the announcement of four economic development projects totaling $200 million in investment with 500 new jobs over the past four months.”

Congratulations to Tammy Webster on being selected as one of two 2020 MPA Outstanding Students. She graduated in May with both the MPA degree and the Emergency Management graduate certificate.

Tammy is a Fire Captain and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Captain in the City of Fort Thomas, Kentucky. In addition to earning multiple certificates and serving on several committees in the Fire and EMS field, she has also been named Northern Kentucky Firefighter of the Year twice and is active in Ft. Thomas Firefighters Local 1928.

Beyond her work as a Fire and EMS captain, Tammy led the effort to implement the Fire Chaplain Program in her jurisdiction. Following a number of first responder suicides in the Northern Kentucky region, Tammy (and others) questioned how they could confront this mental health issue immediately. Looking for a solution that could be felt quickly, Tammy started campaigning for a fire department chaplain to give first responders someone to speak with after a bad run.

After getting buy-in from fellow firefighters, the fire chief, city administrator, and city council, the Fire Chaplain Program was implemented. “Ensuring that mental health is treated with the gravity that it deserves will require changing the culture of the fire service. That will take time,.” Tammy said. “Implementing programs like this one is something that we can do to begin to change the culture in the short term.”

Congratulations to Jenna Hurley for being selected as one of two 2020 MPA Outstanding Students. She plans to graduate in December 2020.

Jenna is currently the Assistant to the City Manager for the City of Mason, Ohio. In this position, she researches, analyzes, recommends, and implements policy concerning budget, managerial and operational challenges, and manages contracts for various city services and initiatives.

In this role, Jenna also led the effort in creating the city’s Career Development Program, which partners the City of Mason with educators in the middle and high schools to introduce students to careers in public service that don’t necessarily require a college degree such as public utilities, public works, law enforcement, and firefighting/EMS. The program includes hosting field trips, career development days, creating a career development “map” and encouraging students to participate in paid internships with the city.

“The goal of the Career Development Program is not only to introduce students to opportunities in the public sector but to set them up for success in the future. Our program helps mold students into valuable, attractive candidates while also helping them build the soft skills needed to be successful in the real world,” Jenna said. “Not only does the student benefit, but the city also has the opportunity to potentially hire these candidates for current or future vacancies within the organization."

The Career Development Program is still in its early stages, but the city has already hired one full-time employee from the program.  

 

 

Congratulations to Lisa Cooper (MPA 1995) for being selected as one of this year's Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky! The Women's Initiative of the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce is honoring these individuals for "their outstanding service, integrity and leadership."

The Outstanding Women event has been transitioned to a virtual celebration due to the coronavirus, and it is taking place on June 23 at 12 noon. More information in this recent Northern Kentucky Tribune article.

 

Tom Fromme (MPA 2001) was selected for the Seeds of Hope Award from Mentoring Plus. Tom has served as the City Manager of Newport, Kentucky, for more than 14 years. Prior to serving as City Manager, he worked in the Newport Police Department for 25 years, including 15 years as the Chief of Police.

Mentoring Plus is a nonprofit organization with a mission of empowering disadvantaged youth and their families through intensive case management services and life coaching. Its Seeds of Hope Award honors a person who has made major contributions to the lives of youth and families in the region.

Read more about Tom in this Northern Kentucky Tribune article.  

 

Norse Skolars: From Summer Melt to Student Success by Kyle Dorriere (MPA 2017) and Victoria Vogelgesang (MPA 2013). Kyle and Tori work for Kentucky Campus Compact, a statewide nonprofit organization (based on NKU's campus) that promotes the civic purpose of higher education in addressing needs in the commonwealth. The $54,990 award – including the Fan Vote award – will go toward a mentoring program designed to minimize "summer melt," which happens when incoming freshmen pay their deposit and even enroll, but never attend classes for various reasons, usually life circumstances.

 

 

Dual-Credit Instructor Credentialing Scholarship by James Catchen (MPA 2014). James is the Assistant Director of NKU's School-Based Scholars (SBS) program, which provides eligible high school students with the opportunity to take college classes for dual credit at a reduced tuition rate. The $56,000 award will enable the SBS program to be expanded to more high schools and students.  

Two MPA alumni were selected for the national Traeger Award from Engaging Local Government Leaders (ELGL) in 2019 – Tiphanie Galvez (MPA 2018) and Mark Wendling (MPA 1992). Congratulations to both of them!

The Traeger Award recognizes the top influencers in local government. The award is named for Chris Traeger, the City Manager on the show Parks and Recreation, who was "known for extreme energy and commitment to improving local government."

Read more about Tiphanie here (scroll down)

And Mark here (scroll down)

MPA student Taylor Schafer was selected for the Northern Kentucky City/County Management Association (NKCCMA) scholarship this year. Taylor currently serves as a Community Center Director for the Cincinnati Recreation Commission and she is interested in continuing her career in local government and, more generally, public service. She is passionate about education, community engagement, and social justice issues.

The MPA program is grateful for our ongoing partnership with NKCCMA. This year, the scholarship was named in honor of Roger Rolfes, who worked in Northern Kentucky local government for decades, including as City Administrator in Florence and Edgewood, prior to his retirement in 2011. Mr. Rolfes is also a very proud alumnus of Northern Kentucky University, serving as president of the NKU Alumni Association at one point. Check out this article in the The River City News to learn more about NKCCMA, Roger Rolfes, and the scholarship.

Congratulations to Taylor, and thanks again to the NKCCMA and its members!

Dave Moore (MPA 2006) received the Firefighter Hero Award by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and Maglite.

The national Firefighter Hero Award program honors whole departments, groups of firefighters, or single individuals for "extraordinary commitment to upholding excellence in firefighting and related activities."

As founder and executive director of the Africa Fire Mission (AFM), Dave was honored with this award due to "his extraordinary work saving lives of firefighters and civilians in Africa." Prior to starting and leading AFM, he served in various roles in the fire service in the Greater Cincinnati region, including as Fire Chief in Glendale, Ohio.

A special event to honor Dave was held in August at the Fire Training Academy on the Great Oaks Career Campuses in Sharonville, Ohio.  

Read more about Dave and his award here.

Chief Frank Cook (MPA 2013) and his team at Colerain Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) have been honored with two prestigious awards!

Colerain Fire & EMS received the Nicholas Rosecrans Award -- honoring leadership in injury prevention -- at the EMS Expo on October 15. The department was recognized for its Quick Response Team (QRT) program, for which a firefighter/paramedic, a police officer and an addiction counselor work together in responding to overdoses and following up on them. With a 70% success rate, QRT is a national model that's being replicated by agencies across the country.

In addition, Colerain Fire & EMS was honored with the Innovation Now award by the Ohio Chapter of the Addiction Policy Forum. This award was received at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus on October 30.

In 2018, Colerain was selected as EMS Agency of the Year by the Ohio Department of Public Safety. It has also received the Award of Excellence and Decade of Excellence award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Read the full WCPO article here.

Kara Shibiya was selected as part of the 2019 Forty Under 40 class. This annual awards program is organized by the Cincinnati Business Courier to recognize "young professionals in Greater Cincinnati who are building successful careers while also giving back."

Kara earned her Nonprofit Management graduate certificate from our program in 2005. She is currently serving as Director of Grant Programs at ArtsWave. Prior to that, she held grant and fundraising positions with Cincinnati Public Schools, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Art Museum, and the American Ballet Theatre.

In recent years, Kara has been engaged with classes at NKU, representing ArtsWave as a key funding partner in the Mayerson Student Philanthropy Project. This Fall she taught our Grant Research and Writing class (PAD 623), which is very popular with MPA and Nonprofit Management certificate students. It was booked for months!

Dr. Michael Hoff was selected as a Tennessee Leadership and Innovation Fellow! He is a two-time graduate of Northern Kentucky University, completing the Master of Public Administration (MPA) in 2005 and the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in 201

Dr. Hoff has worked at East Tennessee State University for more than six years, most recently as Associate Vice President and Chief Planning Officer. Prior to that, he worked in institutional research at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College for about six years.

This is the first year of the Tennessee Leadership and Innovation Fellows program. It was created to help develop the next generation of leaders in higher education. (More information on the program in the Johnson City Press article here.)

Tyler Gabbard (Nonprofit Management certificate 2017) was one of about 25 individuals nationwide chosen for the 2020 Emerging Leadership Institute, developed and organized by the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP).

Currently, Tyler is the Box Office and Patron Communications Manager at the Pepperdine University Center for the Arts in Malibu, California. Previously, he had served as the Events and Publicity Manager for the NKU School of the Arts.

In addition to the Nonprofit Management certificate from NKU, Tyler earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre Production and Design from the NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

The APAP has a mission of strengthening the performing arts field and careers through professional development, grant support, advocacy, and networking. More information about its Emerging Leadership Institute, particularly the 2020 class, can be found here.

DiEshia Myers received the 2019 Diversity Scholarship in the NKU MPA program.

DiEshia recently earned a bachelor's degree from Northern Kentucky University with a Criminal Justice major and a Social Justice minor. She has been actively involved with campus organizations addressing diversity, inclusion and social equity including the Nu Upsilon Black Women's Honorary, which acknowledges African American women for their contributions in the NKU community and beyond, and FUEL NKU, which enriches the lives of NKU students by providing nutritional assistance and other useful items.

DiEshia wants to earn an MPA degree because she plans to work for the FBI or another government agency "to provide public services that help people and  improve communities." To this end, she has already volunteered at the Ohio Justice & Policy Center and the Victim's Assistance Program in the Campbell County Attorney’s Office.

"Having an MPA would give me the opportunity to be involved in many different things and not limited to work in one specific career field," she said. "This degree is a great way to meet people from all backgrounds and make lasting positive impacts on individuals' lives."  

Congratulations to Lisa Desmarais (MPA 2012) and her husband Norm for being recipients of the annual Covington Award! The Friends of Covington presented them with the honor in May.

“Selecting Lisa and Norm as the award winners for this year was an easy decision for our board,” said John Niland, president of Friends of Covington. “If you look at all that they have accomplished in a relatively brief period of time, it’s fair to say that they are two of the most worthy people who have ever been recognized by the organization. They have made a difference as business people, as public servants, as residents and as volunteers."

River City News article about Lisa and Norm

Congratulations to the Next Generation Leader Award finalists including two of our NKU MPA people -- Tom Haggard (MPA 2019) and Justin Otto (MPA 2009)!

The NGLAs salute and applaud young professionals under the age of 40 for significant professional accomplishments, demonstrated leadership, and community impact. This year, the NGLAs celebrate ten years of highlighting talented young leaders, and the continued impact that former NGLA recipients are making throughout the region.

Next Generation Leader Awards Announcement

 

 

Amanda Romine Meeker (MPA 2015) won two major awards at NKU this year. Amanda, who serves as Associate Director of NKU Career Services, was one of three people selected for the 2019 Regents Distinguished Service Award. She is pictured here (center) with this award.

In addition, Amanda was recently selected for an Outstanding Staff Award. She was honored for this award at the Academic Affairs Faculty and Staff Awards Ceremony on Thursday, April 18.

Lisa Cooper was selected for the 2019 Distinguished MPA Alumna Award

Lisa Cooper (MPA 1995) was recognized as this year’s Distinguished MPA Alumna for her long service to local governments, nonprofit organizations, and citizens in the Northern Kentucky region. Most notably, she has worked at the Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD) for 24 years, including her current role as executive director.

The NKADD is a collaboration of local leaders and staff educating and empowering communities in the three northern-tier counties (Boone, Campbell, and Kenton) and five southern-tier counties (Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Owen, and Pendleton). It does so by providing programs and services in the areas of community development, workforce development, aging, and other human services. As executive director, Lisa leads a staff of about 90 people.

Over the years, a number of NKU MPA students have served as interns at the NKADD, and a number of NKU MPA alumni have worked as full-time professionals in the agency.  Lisa has served not only as a manager and supervisor to her employees, but also as a mentor and role model.

Lisa has been recognized for her leadership in various ways. For example, she represents the Southeast region of the country, including Kentucky, on the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). Also, she was named as one of the "Top Women in Business” by The Lane Report, which is the statewide business magazine in Kentucky.

MPA student Tom Haggard was selected not only for one major award ... but two!

First, Tom was selected as the 2019 Outstanding Student by the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the American Society for Public Administrators. He was recognized at the Public Administrator of the Year Luncheon at The Phoenix in downtown Cincinnati on April 12. In addition, Tom was selected as the 2019 Distinguished Graduate by the NKU Master of Public Administration program.

Tom is currently the Workforce Development Director at Brighton Center, which is a nonprofit that creates opportunities for people to reach self-sufficiency. Prior to that, Tom worked at Covington Partners for eight years, and he was selected as one of a dozen Afterschool Ambassadors by the Afterschool Alliance in Washington, D.C.

In 2017, Tom worked with the Afterschool Alliance to enhance public support of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) program, after the Trump administration had proposed eliminating it. The program serves over 2 million
students, and it is the only federal funding source dedicated to such programs. Due to efforts by Afterschool Alliance and others -- which included rallies and social media -- citizens made thousands of phone calls, emails and letters to congressional representatives in every state and congressional district.

More than 110 members in the House signed a letter opposing elimination of the 21st CCLC program. Ultimately, President Trump signed the spending plan that included $1.2 billion for the program – the highest level of funding in its history. Tom said, “The entire experience was incredibly powerful for me both professional and personally. I learned that we can have a profound impact in our local community but also have an even larger impact if we can work together and share knowledge and resources.”

Abbey King is the 2019 Outstanding Student

When Abbey started taking MPA classes in Fall 2017, she was the assistant office manager in a skydiving center in Middletown, Ohio. To learn more about local government management, she decided to do an internship in the City of Covington's Economic Development Department. She worked on The Covington Story Map, which is an interactive web-based tool that showcases the city's renaissance through stories of residential and commercial development projects. Due to her great work on The Story Map, she was recently hired by the City of Covington's Parks and Recreation Department. Abbey has one last class to finish her MPA degree -- Capstone in Fall 2019. She said, "As my time in the MPA program is nearing its end, I can confidently say that I have been prepared to achieve my goal of working in local government to improve the overall quality of life for communities in the Northern Kentucky/Cincinnati region."

David Elmer (MPA 2004) was selected for the Evendale Chamber of Commerce Leadership Award! David is Administrator of the Village of Evendale, Ohio.

We know that David is very deserving of being recognized for his leadership. He has led and served our MPA program in many ways -- as Advisory Board member, adjunct professor, and resume advisor/builder extraordinaire. He won our Outstanding Alumnus Award in 2007.

David is pictured here (left) with his shiny new award and with Richard Finan, who is the current Mayor of Evendale and the former long-time President of the Ohio Senate.

Lindsay Lomax (MPA 2018) received one of Covington’s Heart of the Community 2018 awards presented by the Center for Great Neighborhoods. This award recognizes Covington residents who have made “significant contributions to their neighborhood or school.”

Lindsay was recognized for the passion she has for Covington’s youth and the parks they use. Lindsay and another Covington resident, Sam Carmine, spearheaded a Goebel Pool back-to-school party where they fed 50 families pizza and ice cream, provided totes filled with school supplies, and danced to a live DJ. In addition, the kids were given the opportunity to offer feedback about needed park improvements. The nomination letter states that “Sam and Lindsay gave these children a voice to express how their park space should look and confidence to know that their opinion matters. Their ideas bring community together to plan and develop creative problem solving solutions for future park improvements.”  

In January 2019, MPA student Danielle Ott was awarded a scholarship from the Northern Kentucky City and County Management Association (NKCCMA).

The NKCCMA focuses on improving the quality of city and county government and services in our region. The group created this scholarship a few years ago to help attract and support young professionals interested in pursuing careers in local government management.

Currently, Danielle is a Family Support Specialist with the Kentucky Department for Community Based Services. She earned a bachelor's degree in International Studies and Criminal Justice from NKU in 2016.

 

Rebecca Volpe (MPA 2006), Director of NKU's Small Business Development Center, was recently selected for an award from America's Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

America’s SBDC represents the nationwide network of small business development centers, which provide no-cost business consulting and low-cost training to new and existing businesses. There are about 1,000 development centers across the country that are hosted by universities, colleges, state economic development agencies, and private partners. The centers are funded in part by the U.S. Congress through a partnership with the Small Business Administration.

Rebecca's award recognizes her significant contributions to America's SBDC and her dedication to assisting small businesses in Northern Kentucky.

 

 

 

Alisa Berry (MPA 2004) was selected for the WE Lead program in the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber of Commerce. WE Lead is a 10-month executive leadership development experience that prepares and empowers talented women for greater leadership roles.

Mark Ober (MPA 2011) was selected for the Career Achievement award by the American Society for Public Administration's Greater Cincinnati Chapter!

Mark's career spans four decades with the Anderson Township Fire and Rescue Department. In 1976, he started as a volunteer firefighter and, in 1977, he was appointed to a career position. In 1994, he was promoted to an assistant chief and, in 2002, he became the Fire Chief. In this position, Mark oversees four stations and manages more than 60 firefighters. After more than 15 years in this role, he announced that he will retire on August 3. We want to take this opportunity to congratulate him on his retirement and thank him for his service.

Beyond his formal duties in Anderson Township, he has also held leadership roles in the Southwest Ohio Fire Chiefs Association, Ohio Fire Chiefs Association, and other professional associations.

MPA student Rachel Staley was selected not only for one major award ... but two!

First, Rachel received the American Society for Public Administration's Greater Cincinnati Chapter (ASPA-GCC) Outstanding Student award, as part of the group's Public Administrators of the Year awards. Then, she was awarded the NKU Master of Public Administration program’s 2018 Outstanding Student award.

Rachel has demonstrated excellence in her MPA classes, on NKU's campus, and in the field of nonprofit management. So far in the MPA program, she has earned a cumulative GPA of 4.0. Beyond this high level of academic performance, MPA faculty and staff have observed that she goes out of her way to help and support her fellow students. In addition, Rachel has been a very active president of the Public Administration Student Society (PASS) this year, and she was nominated and elected to serve as the student representative on NKU's Graduate Council.

Rachel's career has been dedicated to serving vulnerable populations, such as those with developmental disabilities. For the past couple years, she has been a Program Manager with the nonprofit organization Chapters Ahead. Its mission is "to help people with disabilities enjoy books, friends, and their community." Previously, she worked at the Nisonger Center in Ohio State University's Medical Center. The center's mission involves providing services and educational opportunities to improve the lives of people with neurodevelopmental disorders.

Alisa Berry (2004) was selected for the 2018 Distinguished MPA Alumna Award and was honored at the MPA Spring Banquet on Wednesday, April 4.

Alisa is the Chief Operating Officer of Catholic Charities SW Ohio, which focuses on engaging the community in "serving the poor, protecting the vulnerable, and welcoming the stranger." Catholic Charities provides a broad range of services, including food banks and pantries, disaster recovery and emergency assistance, adoption and early childhood assistance, senior companions and caregiver assistance, mental health counseling, legal immigration, and refugee resettlement. At the banquet, she shared information and ideas about her work in these areas and, more broadly, her career in public service.

Chris Moriconi was selected as the 2018 Distinguished Graduate in the NKU Master of Public Administration program. Chris has served as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) or City Administrator of The City of Independence, Kentucky since 2013. In this role, he oversees an $8 million budget and 50 employees who provide public services to the 27,000 residents of Independence.

From 2013 to 2015, Chris served as CAO of Fort Mitchell, where he managed a $5 million budget and 29 full-time and 25 part-time employees. Prior to becoming a city administrator, he held positions in the private sector, including financial investment, real estate, marketing, and sales.

In addition to serving on the "professional" side of local government -- as a city administrator -- Chris has been on the political side. From 2003 to 2013, he served as the Mayor of Independence and, from 2001 to 2003, as a City Council Member.

Chris has demonstrated leadership in and service to the region. He has been president of the Northern Kentucky City and County Management Association and a member of the Planning Development Services Management Board. In addition, he was recently awarded the American Legion Gold Citizenship Medal for the various ways he supports and recognizes military veterans in this region.

Joe Shriver (MPA 1996) was selected as the 2017 City/County Manager of the Year by the Northern Kentucky City and County Management Association (NKCCMA). The award recognizes leadership and excellence in public service.  

For the past seven years, Joe has served as County Administrator for the Kenton County Fiscal Court. Previously, he was Deputy Chief of Staff and Human Resource Director there for 11 years. Joe also worked for the City of Newport for two years and -- way back when -- he was a Graduate Assistant in our MPA program. (Of course, we like to think that this is where his leadership and excellence in public service got started!)

MPA student Jeremy Worley was awarded the Northern Kentucky City and County Management Association (NKCCMA) annual scholarship in January. The scholarship was created a few years ago for MPA students pursuing a career in local government management.

Currently, Jeremy works in the for-profit sector but is actively seeking a position in local government. “I understand that some people view government as intrusive or a necessary evil but I hope to change that. I want people to understand that our daily heroes can be found in the trenches at city hall, the sanitation department, park services and other government employees who have one mission: to serve the citizens.” His ultimate goal is to one day be a city manager or administrator.

Congrats to Elishia Chamberlain! She was recently selected for a Next Generation Leader Award (NGLA) by LEGACY, which is "the premier organization for young professionals in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region." The NGLA program recognizes young professionals for demonstrated leadership, significant accomplishments in their chosen field, and contributions to the community.

Elishia (MPA 2008) was the NGLA winner in the Government and Public Affairs category. She is currently serving as Administrator of The City of Ludlow, where she has focused on enhancing economic development. One example of these efforts is Ludlow Yards, which is a mixed-use development planned for the gateway to the city with a design inspired by its railroad heritage.

Interestingly, Elishia was presented the award by Elizabeth Fricke, who is also an MPA alumna (2013). Elizabeth is Senior Director of Marketing and Talent Management at Children, Inc., and she serves as chair of the NGLA program. (In the picture above, Elishia is on the left, and Elizabeth is on the right.)

Shawn Freeman (MPA 2017) was selected for a Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship by the Greater Cincinnati Planned Giving Council (GCPGC). She was one of two people receiving the award this year, which was created to foster more diversity in the planned giving field.

Benefits of the GCPGC's Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship include a one-year membership in the association and registration in its introductory planned giving course, called "Planned Giving on the Run."

The GCPGC is a professional association for people whose work includes developing, marketing, and administering charitable planned gifts for nonprofit organizations. It sponsors various events including monthly educational and networking meetings, virtual seminars, and after-work socials. More info at: http://www.gcpgc.org/.