NKU Master of Public Administration

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NKU Master of Public Administration

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 fi

re 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.

06/17/2026

Learning from those who’ve been there!

Porcha Hope (NKU MPA student) connected with Cheryl Floyd (NKU MPA alum and mentor) for a meaningful conversation on career paths, challenges, and opportunities. Moments like these highlight the strength of our network and the impact of mentorship in shaping future public service leaders.

Thank you, Cheryl, and all of our MPA mentors, for making the time for our students.

MPA alumni interested in mentoring a current student - just a couple connections a year, in person or virtual - please reach out to Missy Gish at [email protected].

06/12/2026

Congrats and kudos to three of our MPA alums on new opportunities in their professional lives! 👏👏👏 It's always exciting and rewarding to see our former students work toward fulfilling careers that serve people and help communities in our region and beyond.

- Marissa Bruns (2022) has started as Senior Project Manager at Elevance Health, which is a health insurance company dedicated to "improving health outcomes, lowering costs, and simplifying experiences." Prior to this role, Marissa worked at Kroger Health, Kroger, and Girl Scouts of Western Ohio -- all with a focus on program management and process improvement.

- Luke Price (2025) has been selected for the Hamilton Management & Strategy Fellowship, which is a 12-month leadership development residency in the City of Hamilton, Ohio. Fellows work in areas such as strategic project management, policy and operational analysis, data visualization and reporting, and community development. This is a fantastic opportunity for Luke, who took the BA-to-MPA pathway at Northern Kentucky University.

- Kara Wright (2025) is now an Administrative Specialist in the Office of Grants and Government Affairs for the City Of Cincinnati Government. Previously, she completed internships with Colerain Township, Ohio, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Kara also took the BA-to-MPA pathway at NKU, working for our Campus Recreation Center along the way.

06/09/2026

Big news for Northern Kentucky University undergraduate students—New Program Launch Fall 2026!

We’re excited to introduce the Expedited Master of Public Administration (MPA) Concentration, designed to help NKU undergraduate students fast-track their future in public service and leadership.

This accelerated pathway saves both time and money, allowing students to get a head start on earning a graduate degree:
✅ Take up to 4 graduate-level courses (12 credits) as an undergraduate.
✅ Complete the MPA in just one year after earning a bachelor’s degree.

Eligibility Requirements:
✅ Interest in public service and/or leadership
✅ Junior or senior status
✅ Minimum GPA of 3.0

If you’re a current NKU undergraduate and meet the criteria, we’d love to connect! Reach out to [email protected] to learn more.

06/07/2026

Interested in study abroad? Dr. Julie Olberding will be teaching Arts Administration in NEW ZEALAND in Winter 2026-2027. This can be taken as a graduate, undergraduate, or honors class by students at Northern Kentucky University and other colleges and universities in Kentucky and beyond.

The New Zealand experience will take place from December 26, 2026 through January 09, 2027. The group will stay in three popular cities and regions — Auckland, Wellington, and Rotorua — and participate in active learning experiences such as:

👣 Take a walking tour of Auckland, centered on arts and culture.
🎥 Tour the world-famous Hobbiton Movie Set.
🖼️ Visit the Museum of New Zealand.
🎭 Attend live theater, dance, and/or music performances.
🏛️ Tour the New Zealand Parliament, focused on its diverse art and heritage collections.
🤝 Meet with arts administrators in government agencies and/or nongovernmental organizations.
👩🏽‍🎨 Visit at least one community market to meet local artists and experience the creative economy at a grassroots level.
⛰️ Hike near geothermal wonders that’ve been the focal points for spiritual, creative, social, and economic activities for hundreds of years.
🤿 Snorkel, swim, and/or walk at iconic beaches, which are key aspects of the country’s cultural landscapes and tourism experiences. (It'll be SUMMER there!)

Arts Administration is one of a few courses in the New Zealand program offered through the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA). You can learn more from the flyer below and at this web site: https://ccsa.via-trm.com/program_brochure/33162. Also, you can reach out directly to Dr. Olberding at [email protected].

06/04/2026

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to start your MPA … this is it.

We are accepting Fall 2026 applications AND the application fee is currently being waived! Don’t sit on this — future you will be glad you applied.

NKU’s MPA program is built for people who want to implement real policies, manage public resources responsibly, and solve the community challenges that matter most.

Fall course highlights: PAD 560 Community and Economic Development; PAD 622 Volunteer & Community Engagement; PAD 562 Managing Nonprofit Organizations and more!

Winter Lineup: PAD 563 Arts Administration study abroad in New Zealand!

To apply, you’ll need:
• Online application
• 300–400 word essay
• Two recommendations
• Official transcripts
• Writing sample

Reach out to Missy Gish ([email protected]) with questions - and please share with or tag anyone who might be interested!

06/01/2026

Happy birthweek to Missy Gish! (It's a big year for her.) 😁 Many of you may know that Missy has served as NKU MPA Coordinator for more than 10 years, but you may not be aware that she's worked at our university for a total of 22 years, and she's a double Norse alum -- bachelor's and master's degrees.

Missy is responsible for many activities that support our MPA degree, Nonprofit Management & Leadership certificate, Public Service minor, and various grad and undergrad micro-credentials. These activities include (but are not limited to) program marketing and recruitment, student onboarding and advising, event organizing and hosting, student and alumni communications, fundraising (especially on NKU Founders' Day!), and assisting with program accreditation and assessment.

Those of you who interact with Missy know that she works with an exceptional level of dedication, collaboration, creativity, attention to detail, and caring. But most importantly, she brings fun and joy to the people around her!

Please join us in wishing Missy the best year ever ... and the best decade ever! 🥳

05/29/2026

Dr. Shamima Ahmed co-authored an article on domestic violence in Tajikistan, which was recently published by the International Journal of Social Science Research and Review. This study is an extension of her work in the Republic of Tajikistan, which started in 2022 through The Fulbright Program.

Dr. Ahmed worked on this research with Takhminai Mirali, whom she met while serving as a Fulbright Specialist at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan. The authors conducted in-depth interviews with Tajik people who had experienced domestic violence directly or indirectly. Their article discusses the pervasiveness and severity of domestic violence in Tajik society, and it concludes with recommendations to address this significant issue, based their interviews.

Although domestic violence is a severe issue in Tajikistan, Dr. Ahmed noted that there have only been a few scholarly articles on it. "This may be one of my publications that I am really proud of since it will hopefully make a few more people aware of the tragic reality in Tajik society," she said.

Congratulations on the publication of this important study! Those interested in learning more can access a PDF of the full journal article here: https://ijssrr.com/journal/article/view/3322.

05/27/2026

The MPA Public Service Scholarship is designed for MPA students who have demonstrated a commitment to serving others and making positive impacts on individuals, communities, and society. This may include providing needed services and working to improve quality of life, typically through government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

Applicants must be new or current NKU MPA students and write a one-page essay describing their demonstrated commitment to public service. Preference is given to students who exhibit financial need.

Interested students should submit a resume along with the one-page essay to MPA Coordinator Missy Gish at [email protected] by Monday, July 6th at 11:59 p.m.

05/22/2026

During the Spring semester, our Fund Raising & Management students (PAD 621) were involved with several community-based, experiential-learning projects! One group worked with Violeta Colman of Esperanza Latino Center to develop:
• an individual giving program called "Trees of Hope" or "Árboles de la Esperanza";
• guidelines for donor messaging and other communications;
• a spreadsheet of potential grant makers including key information such as priority areas and target populations; and
• two draft grant proposals that incorporate statement of need, measurable outcomes, and budget information.

Another group of students partnered with James Johnson of The Campbell Conservancy, Inc. to share information and ideas on:
• creating an individual giving framework with tools such as donor messaging, an informational flyer, and an FAQ sheet;
• strengthening social media to enhance individual giving; and
• developing a strategy and identifying potential funders for an educational signage project.

Thanks to Violeta and James for meeting with the PAD 621 class multiple times and providing feedback during the semester! Through these service-learning projects, it is clear that the students SERVED nonprofit organizations and communities while they LEARNED more deeply about theories, concepts, and practices in fund raising and management. ⭐⭐

05/18/2026

We had such a great time catching up with alumni, current students, and prospective students at the MPA celebration last week that… we barely remembered to take photos😄

Even so, we managed to capture a few moments. This annual tradition is one we look forward to every year, and we’re grateful to everyone who made it so fun.

Special shout out to Dr. O for hosting!

Swipe through the photos we did get - and we can’t wait to see you at the next MPA event! 💛🖤

Address

555 Founders Hall
Highland Heights, KY
41099

Telephone

+18595725326

Website

http://nku.edu/mpa

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