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Our Mission

Northern Kentucky University delivers innovative, student-centered education and engages in impactful scholarly and creative endeavors, all of which empower our graduates to have fulfilling careers and meaningful lives, while contributing to the economic, civic, and social vitality of the region. 


Our Vision

NKU will be nationally recognized for being a student-ready, regionally-engaged university that empowers diverse learners for economic and social mobility.


Our Core Values

  • We will promote a culture that fosters and celebrates excellence in all that we do.
  • We will engage in honest, fair, and ethical behavior with integrity at the heart of every decision and action.
  • We will foster a community of belonging by embracing equity, diversity, and inclusiveness.
  • We will approach our work—how we teach, engage and serve—with creativity and innovation.
  • We will maintain a climate of collegiality built on respect and characterized by open communication and shared responsibility.

Student success begins long before graduation, so we continue to seek ways to work more closely with our education partners to prepare our region’s youth for college and career.

To prepare our students for an increasingly dynamic and competitive world, we must continue to set and maintain rigorous standards in all of our programs. We ensure that our graduates are empowered with broad knowledge and transferable skills that prepare them to deal with the complexities and challenges of the 21st century. We are putting our students first, leading with excellence and making a lasting impact.

We need a courageous leader who is committed to seeing our students graduate

fully prepared for a successful career and a meaningful life – a leader who encourages our alumni to say involved and engaged with their alma mater – a leader who fosters dynamic relationships with donors and engages them in impactful, collaborative partnerships that benefit our students – a leader who inspires our faculty and staff with a vision for our university’s future based on our core values – and a leader who rallies our surrounding communities in helping us contribute to the economic, civic and social vitality of the region.    

Are you that leader?


Learn more about our Strategic Framework

Success by Design