Nathaniel G. Smith will chair the Northern Kentucky University Board of Regents for a one-year term beginning July 1.
The Fort Mitchell business executive has served on the Board of Regents since his appointment by Gov. Steve Beshear in July 2010.
As board chair, he will make history: Smith is the first chair to have also served as a student regent. He is a 1994 graduate of Northern Kentucky University.
“As a proud alumnus of this university, I am grateful for the opportunity to help make a difference for our students, our faculty and staff, and in our community,” Smith said.
“This is a very exciting time for Northern Kentucky University, as we complete our transition to Division I athletics and look ahead toward our university’s 50th anniversary,” he said. “I am proud to be part of it.”
Smith is founding partner of SSK Communities, among the largest manufactured housing development firms in the Midwest.
He is chairman of the board for the National Manufactured Housing Institute, a 300-member trade organization, and a member of the Kenton County Airport Board, which oversees the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
Smith is also past president of the Kentucky Manufactured Housing Institute and former vice chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party.
Also beginning July 1, Scripps Howard CEO Richard A. Boehne will serve as vice chair of the Board of Regents, and former state education commissioner Virginia G. Fox will serve as secretary.
Several new regents also join the board on July 1.
Beshear has appointed Heritage Bank senior vice president Lee Scheben of Union to the board and reappointed Dennis Repenning, board chair for the past two years, to a second six-year term.
In addition, Richard Boyce has been elected to the Board of Regents by members of the faculty, Arnie Slaughter was elected by members of the staff, and Katherine Hahnel has been elected to the board and as president of the Student Government Association by the students.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with all of our regents to support the university’s continuing progress,” said NKU President Geoffrey S. Mearns.
The Board of Regents is the governing body of the university. It is composed of eight members appointed by the governor and three elected members: a faculty representative, a staff representative, and the student body president.
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From NKU