On August 1, 1997 James C. Votruba became President of Northern Kentucky University, a 14,000 student metropolitan campus located in the Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati area. He came to NKU from Michigan State University where he was vice provost for university outreach and professor of higher education from 1989-97. Prior to his tenure at MSU, he was dean of the College of Education and Human Development (1983-1989) at Binghamton University. He previously held faculty and administrative positions at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Drake University.

Dr. Votruba earned his B.A. in political science, M.A. in political science and sociology, and his Ph.D. in higher education administration from Michigan State University. He is a frequent lecturer, author, and consultant in the areas of higher education leadership and strategic planning. In 2002, he chaired the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ Task Force on Public Engagement. He is also a faculty member in AASCU’s New Presidents’ Academy.

Dr. Votruba’s wife, Rachel, is an adjunct professor in NKU’s College of Education where she teaches in the area of school discipline and classroom management. Their family includes three children, Chris, Emily, and Elizabeth, son-in-law Peter Drzal, and grandsons Anthony, James, Nicholas, and Thomas.