NKU Master of Public Administration

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Highland Heights, KY
NKU Master of Public Administration

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NKU's MPA program is a 36-credit-hour degree that prepares students to be managers and leaders in government agencies, nonprofits, and related organizations.

We also offer a 12-credit-hour certificate in Nonprofit Management and various micro-credentials. NKU's Master of Public Administration (MPA) program develops leaders and managers for government agencies, hospitals and health-care institutions, universities and libraries, arts organizations, and other nonprofits. Our award-winning alumni and students are top city and county managers, police and fire chiefs, nonprofit executives, department and program directors, fundraising professionals, and volunteer managers. NKU's MPA program actively engages our students in learning, research, and service through capstone projects, student philanthropy, service learning, internships, the Pi Alpha Alpha global honor society, and the Public Administration Student Society (PASS). Our alumni go on to have successful and fulfilling careers that focus on serving people and improving communities in Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati and beyond. It is the only MPA program in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati region accredited by the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (NASPAA), which is "the global standard in public service education." More info: nku.edu/mpa.

10/21/2026

Are you interested in having positive impacts on people and communities? Join us on Thursday, November 12 in NKU's Health Innovation Center (HE 102/104) to learn about pathways of professionals currently working in the public service field. The first session is at 10:50 am and the second session starts at 12:15 pm.

𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 – Lieutenant, Covington Police Department
𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡 𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 – Municipal Specialist, City of Newport
𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐩𝐩 – Director of Community & Economic Development, The Port
𝐉𝐮𝐝𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 – Career Pathways, City of Cincinnati Human Resources
𝐌𝐚𝐲𝐫𝐚 𝐆𝐮𝐳𝐦𝐚𝐧 – Director of Impact, Cooperative for Education

All majors welcome! Coffee and donuts will be served. No RSVP needed but feel free to email Missy Gish at [email protected] with any questions!

10/19/2026

Christopher Gilbert (NKU MPA 2012) has had a lengthy career in local government management, including service to Springfield Township (Hamilton County, Ohio) for nearly 23 years -- most recently as Township Administrator. In addition, he founded Municipal Hospitality about year ago to provide training, coaching, and support to local government managers and administrators. Very impressive, Chris! ⭐ ⭐

This weekend, Chris led a four-hour session at the Annual Conference of ICMA - International City/County Management Association in Long Beach, CA. The session was called "Municipal Hospitality: Creating Moments That Matter in Local Government." The learning objectives for participants included: 1) explaining how municipality hospitality differs from traditional customer service in local government; 2) identifying key moments where hospitality principles can strengthen trust, connection, and community perception; and 3) applying practical municipal hospitality strategies within their own organizations to improve internal culture and external service delivery.

10/15/2026

The Future Leaders Internship Program (FLIP) at Northern Kentucky University is an excellent opportunity for MPA students, especially those with limited professional and/or public service experience. FLIP fellows will be paired with state and local policy-makers during the Spring 2027 semester, and they will receive a stipend of $3,200, generously provided by the Murray & Agnes Seasongood Good Government Foundation.

The FLIP application deadline is Monday, October 19, and potential fellows must meet basic requirements such as a 3.0 GPA in their major and the ability to travel to Frankfort, KY (Tuesdays and Thursdays) or to their local placement, as scheduled. More information can be found in the FLIP flyer below and at this web site: https://www.nku.edu/government-relations/future-leaders/index.html.

10/13/2026

Our MPA students are on the move, and we're a little behind in sharing their good news! Today we are highlighting two students who have made advancements in their professional careers while pursuing their master's degree. Congrats to Ziah Huett and Paul Pfeiffer!

About a month ago, Ziah started as a Corporate Tax and Economic Development Specialist with the Kroger Company in downtown Cincinnati. In this role, he is helping Kroger manage its incentive portfolio, while having more opportunities to learn about economic development from a different perspective. Previously, Ziah served as Assistant Director of the Center for Local Government, which has a mission of improving public service delivery by cities, townships, and villages in the Greater Cincinnati region through improved information exchange, inter-jurisdictional collaboration, shared resources, and other activities.

Paul is now Coordinator of the University Connect and Persist (UCAP) program at Northern Kentucky University. In this role, he meets with students, who may be at risk for attrition, in order to help them develop academic and financial goals and strategies, connect them to support systems across campus, and monitor progress toward their goals. This represents a shift in Paul's career at NKU, where he previously served Human Resources Coordinator and Student Employment Specialist. He is very energized by his new role of working directly with students and helping them be as successful as possible!

10/12/2026

Leadership doesn't happen by chance. It grows through learning, connection, and service.

Last week, the Women's Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation and the NKU Master of Public Administration co-hosted an AppointedNKY event on Northern Kentucky University's campus. This event was part of the Appointed Civic Leadership Academy (ACLA), and it brought together emerging civic and community leaders to explore board service and leadership, elected office, financial stewardship, and the role of arts and humanities in building stronger communities.

We are grateful to everyone who shared their experiences and inspired attendees to lead with purpose and make a lasting impact across the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati region.

10/06/2026

Show of hands: who's ready to make an impact?

This is your last chance to register for Appointed Northern Kentucky on October 9 at Northern Kentucky University.

Join fellow current and aspiring leaders for a day of learning, connection, and inspiration as we explore how everyday people can help shape stronger communities through civic and community engagement.

A special thank you to the NKU Master of Public Administration Program for hosting this session and helping cultivate the next generation of leaders across our region.

Raise your hand. Claim your spot. We'll see you on October 9.

🔗Register here:

https://bit.ly/AppointedNKYFallSession2026

10/04/2026

Allison Adams (NKU MPA 2006) has been recognized as one of the Most Admired CEOs this year by Louisville Business First. She is President & CEO of the Foundation For a Healthy Kentucky. Congrats and kudos, Allison! 👏👏

10/02/2026

Effective board service requires more than passion for a cause. It also means understanding the financial decisions that help ensure effective and strategic use of funds.

Join us for the Northern Kentucky session of the Appointed Civic Leadership Academy, where Darrin Wilson, MBA, PhD, Associate Professor in Northern Kentucky University's NKU Master of Public Administration Program, will guide participants through the fundamentals of nonprofit and public sector finance.

Together, we'll explore how budgets, financial statements, and fiscal oversight support responsible leadership and informed decision-making.

Whether you're currently serving on a board, considering an appointment, or looking to strengthen your leadership skills, this session will provide practical knowledge you can put to use immediately.

📅 October 9, 2026
🕣 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
(Breakfast/Check-In starts at 8:00 AM)
📍Location: Northern Kentucky University, University Center Ballroom, (3rd Floor)

Take the next step in your civic leadership journey by building the financial confidence needed to lead with impact and accountability.

🔗Register here:
https://bit.ly/AppointedNKYFallSession2026

09/29/2026

Nonprofit-Criminal Justice-Government Career Fair TOMORROW!

Wednesday, September 30, 2026
1-4pm, Student Union Ballroom

Featuring federal, state, and local employers in law enforcement, courts, corrections, government, human services, social services, and nonprofit organizations.

All majors welcome!

09/28/2026

The NKU MPA program is partnering with the Women's Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation to host the Appointed Civic Leadership Academy (ACLA) on Friday, October 9 at Northern Kentucky University! This event is FREE, but attendees need to reserve their spot here: https://bit.ly/AppointedNKYFallSession2026.

The AppointedNKY event will feature a wonderful line-up of speakers on the Community Leaders Panel. (Look for future posts with other speakers and panelists soon!)
- Matt Lehman, Kentucky State Representative
- Ryan Salzman, Director of Regional Advocacy & Engagement, Kentucky Nonprofit Network
- Lynn Schaber, Community Leader & Volunteer
‌
Why attend? Learn how to serve on boards and commissions, build meaningful connections, and take the next step in your leadership journey.

DETAILS
Date: October 9, 2026
Time: 8:30 am – 12:00 pm (breakfast/check-in starts at 8:00 am)
Location: NKU's University Center Ballroom (3rd Floor)

Address

555 Founders Hall
Highland Heights, KY
41099

Telephone

+18595725326

Website

http://nku.edu/mpa

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