NVP - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Alumni Engagement & Annual Giving
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Annual Giving
Job Titles:
- Title Associate University Registrar
Ashley Himes is a NKU alumni many times over, holding Master of Arts degrees in Instructional Leadership ('09) and Secondary Education ('07) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication ('03).
A lifelong Northern Kentucky resident, Ashley currently serves as the Student Services Coordinator at NKCES. Prior to this, she served in the Newport Independent and Campbell and Pendleton County school systems as a special education teacher, educational diagnostician and Assistant Principal.
On the personal side, she is married to Daniel Himes, a 2002 NKU graduate earning his Bachelor's Degree in Marketing at NKU's US Bank/Haile College of Business. They have twin daughters and live on a 100-acre farm in Pendleton County.
Ashley was appointed by Governor Bevin and will serve until 2023.
Job Titles:
- Title Coordinator, Document Imaging and Curriculum
Brad Zapp is a serial entrepreneur and venture capitalist with multiple successful exits, currently focused on delivering a new asset class of early-stage venture capital through a publicly listed interval fund. Zapp is the co-founder and managing partner of Connetic Ventures, founder and managing member of ZH Holdings, co-founder of Wendal®. Through his position at Connetic Ventures, venture capital's foremost data-driven venture fund, Zapp is responsible for all strategic initiatives and partnerships, as well as fundraising and investor relationships. His investment portfolio includes over 100 unique holdings in 32 states and three countries.
Wendal is the artificial intelligence platform technology which Connetic utilizes to make investment selections and democratize capital across marginalized founders in overlooked geographies. Zapp is the data analyst for the company, responsible for the algorithm that has produced close to 60-percent investment recommendations for female or minority founders, and a success rate of over 70% so far.
At NKU, in addition to the Board of Regents, Zapp serves on the advisory board for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He is a 2000 graduate of the University of Kentucky, where he majored in economics and finance. He and his wife, Katherine have been long time Boone County residents raising 3 children currently at Larry A. Ryle and UK.
Job Titles:
- Student Alumni Council, President
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Alumni Engagement
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of the Office of Institutional Research
Dr. Henderson is the associate director of the Office of Institutional Research at NKU. She is also an alum, graduating from the Masters of Industrial-Organizational Psychology program in 2015. Dr. Henderson started at Northern as a graduate assistant in 2012 and was hired full-time in 2014. She also served as the president of NKU's Black Faculty and Staff Association from 2019 to 2021. During her time as BFSA president, Dr. Henderson co-created the Innovation Challenge winning program, Students to Scholars (S2S), which is a sophomore retention program for Black students at NKU. She also participated in the establishment of the Black Faculty & Staff Association-Higher Education Consortium (BFSA-HEC) within the commonwealth of Kentucky. Dr. Henderson serves on the Inclusive Excellence Council and previously served on the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC).
In her personal life, Dr. Henderson enjoys spending time with her husband and five-year old son. She also enjoys reading, action movies, and volunteering at her local church.
Job Titles:
- Title Assistant Registrar, Systems
Job Titles:
- Title Assistant Registrar, Service and VA Certifying Official
Bio
Emily Wright started as the Advocate for the Norse Violence Prevention Center in January 2020. Emily graduated from NKU with her Bachelors and Masters in Social Work and is excited to return to the university that had such a great impact on her life. Prior to NVP, she advocated for human trafficking survivors in Southwest Ohio, conducted outreach in Cincinnati, and provided trainings on human trafficking to the community. She looks forward to ensuring all students that come to NVP feel heard, empowered, and supported.
Job Titles:
- President of the Student Government Association
Isaiah Phillips is a junior double majoring in Psychology and Sociology. Phillips serves as President of the Student Government Association and as the university's student regent. Phillips is also involved in other areas on campus. He serves as a Parliamentarian of the National Pan-Hellenic Council and a Peer Ambassador for Norse Violence Prevention here on campus. He is also a proud member of the Pretty Prestigious Pi Pi chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., where serves as strategus.
Jasmine serves as a part-time, back-up advocate to ensure coverage for NVP's drop-in advocacy support. She previously worked with NVP as a full-time advocate after interning as a trauma therapist with a local Northern Kentucky organization. She is excited to be serving NVP as an advocate for students at the university she loves most, NKU.
Job Titles:
- Title Coordinator, Systems
Job Titles:
- Title Coordinator, Service and VA Certifying Official
Job Titles:
- Director of Annual Giving
Bio
Julia Rump is currently working toward her bachelor degree in social work at NKU and is expecting to graduate in spring 2024. She is spending her final semester interning with Norse Violence Prevention. Julia plans to return to complete her masters degree in social work hoping to spend her career working in hospitals.
Job Titles:
- Secretary
- Mission - Minded Business Strategist
Kara Williams is a mission-minded business strategist, passionate about cultivating authentic brands that help drive the futures of the businesses she serves. With over 15 years of experience in communication, marketing, and organizational leadership, Kara combines her big-picture vision and tactical know-how to expertly lead The Marketing Collective, a consulting firm she founded in 2015 to meet a need she saw for smart, strategic marketing that wasn't one-size-fits-all.
Since graduating from Northern Kentucky University in 2001, Kara has served in a number of roles at the University, including Fourteen years on the Board of Directors of the Northern Kentucky University Foundation, where she served as Chairman of the Membership Committee and on the Executive Committee. Kara also served on the Success by Design strategic framework planning committee and in 2011 was named the Outstanding Alumna Award Winner from the College of Informatics.
Kara and her husband, Wade, who is also a graduate of Northern Kentucky University, are the proud parents of two little girls who will gladly flash the "Norse Up" sign every chance they get.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator, Administrative Operations
Ken Perry graduated from the Naval Nuclear Power Program and was in charge of the nuclear reactor aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. After six years serving in the military, he returned to Kentucky and founded Ken Perry Realty, Inc. It includes Ken Perry Realty, a firm split between sale and construction of single-family residences, small commercial land and building developments, and land development for residential communities. Perry also started an online real estate school titled the Perry Real Estate College, which currently services Kentucky and Tennessee but will soon expand into South Carolina and 17 other states.
In addition to his appointment on NKU's Board of Regents, Perry is active in his industry and community. He has served on the Northern Kentucky Multiple Listing Service Board of Directors, the First Alliance Life Insurance Corporation advisory board and as the past president of the Re/MaxBrokers Council. Perry has also served on two consecutive four-year terms as Commissioner of the Kentucky Real Estate Commission from 2005-2013. His term on NKU's Board of Regents will expire on June 30, 2026.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of the Norse Violence Prevention Center
Bio
Kendra Massey started as the Director of the Norse Violence Prevention Center in February 2019. Prior to coming to NKU, she worked in the field of interpersonal violence prevention and intervention at community-based nonprofits for over fifteen years. She strongly believes that interpersonal violence is preventable and is excited to be part of a coordinated prevention and response team at NKU. She's committed to addressing the issue of interpersonal violence through a trauma-informed and intersectional lens. Kendra holds a Bachelors of Science in Sociology from Xavier University and Masters of Social Work from NKU.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator of Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving
Mr. Andrá R. Ward is the President, Chief Cultural & Transformation Officer and founding principal of The KhafreWard Corporation which is focused on human resource management and talent development. Since 1992, KhafreWard has specialized in improving organizational effectiveness, maximizing individual leadership competencies, enhancing productivity through cultural agility, leveraging thinking and effective communication styles, and strengthening the broadest scope of diversity/inclusion to enhance strategic business results. Mr. Ward is a highly regarded panelist, speaker, and master facilitator and executive coach. His global impact and travels span across the United States and twenty-two other countries including Asia, Europe, Africa, South America and the Caribbean
Mr. Ward is an alumnus of Northern Kentucky University. He graduated in 1986 with a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Radio, Television & Film. Mr. Ward earned a Master of Science in Positive Organizational Development & Change Management (MSPOD), Weatherhead School of Management - Case Western Reserve University with Honors (2016). He also pursued graduate studies in Humanities - Organizational Leadership at Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. He holds an Executive Coaching Certification from The Weatherhead School of Management, Case Western
Nathan Smith - Chief Investment Officer, Founder
Job Titles:
- Chief Investment Officer
- Co - Founder
- Vice Chair
Nathan Smith is the co-founder and Chief Investment Officer
of Flagship Communities REIT. For 27 years, Nathan Smith has led the
transformational effort for substantial growth of his company, including
forming a REIT and a successful IPO on the Toronto Stock Exchange, during 2020, the pandemic year. The REIT owns and operates a portfolio of now 66 manufactured housing communities, comprising 11,876 lots located in seven states. Smith's company is the largest manufactured housing company in Kentucky and among the top 20 in the United States. Smith has served on several high-level boards including the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG), and chairman of the Northern Kentucky University Board of Regents, as well serving as a director on the board of Safe Harbor Marinas and the national Manufactured Housing Institute.
As chairman of The E.W. Scripps Company, Rich is one of NKU's most active alumni. He brings to our board broad experience in the ongoing development of large, complex,mission-driven organizations. During the final two years of his first term on the Board of Regents, he served as board chair.
Bio
Sammi Murrell started in her role with the Norse Violence Prevention Center in June 2021. Sammi graduated from NKU with her Bachelor's in Public Relations. Prior to this position, Sammi served as the President of the NVP Peer Ambassador program as well as working in the NVP office as the Student Coordinator. She is excited to work with the energized students, faculty, and staff at NKU to make our campus a welcoming and safe place for all students.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Management at NKU
Dr. Spataro is a Professor of Management at NKU and the Director of the MBLI program. She holds bachelor's and masters' degrees in Economics and Sociology, respectively, from Stanford University. She received her Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley. Sandra's research examines status and influence processes in organizations, demographic diversity, and organizational cultures. Her work has been published in various journals in Management and Psychology. In addition, Sandra has published two books: "Unstuck: A Tool for Yourself, Your Team and Your World", co-authored with Keith Yamashita and "Dare to Inspire: Sustain the Fire of Inspiration in Work and Life" co-authored with Allison Holzer and Jen Grace Baron. Prior to her work in academia, Sandra worked for several years at Oracle Corporation in California in various staff and line positions. Dr. Spataro has a consulting firm, InspireCorps, that specializes in developing leaders, teams, and organizations to thrive. The firm offers executive coaching and training to improve overall organizational effectiveness.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Vice President of Development
Job Titles:
- Title Coordinator, Scheduling / Catalog
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant to the President and Secretary to the Board of Regents
Bio
Tammy manages the day-to-day services and administrative activities of the Office of the President and acts as a liaison between the President, President's Cabinet, members of the Board of Regents, and other internal and external constituents. She is responsible for Board meeting logistics, inquiries and records.
Tammy holds a bachelor's degree in psychology and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Human Resources, from NKU. She previously received the Professional in Human Resources Certification (PHR).
Prior to joining NKU in 2008, Tammy served for 13 years at General Cable Corporation General Cable Corporation in roles ranging from administrative professional to manager of human resources services. In that capacity, she developed new employee training curriculum, created a successful interviewing program for the company's management team and coached and mentored associates. Prior to her service at General Cable, Tammy served for 11 years at Beiersdorf (formerly the Kendall-Futuro Company).
Tammy is married to Donald Knochelmann and has two children, Bradley and Jared.
Job Titles:
- Title University Registrar
Job Titles:
- Director, Operations & Maintenance