Michael Hales has joined Northern Kentucky University as chief financial officer.
Hales will provide leadership, management, and policy advice on all strategic and tactical matters pertaining to the fiscal operations and financial management of the university. He will also lead NKU’s transition to an incentive-based budget model.
“Mike is a strong collaborator, communicator, change manager, and financial leader who will play a critical role in helping align the resources and strategic assets of the university with our mission and goals,” President Geoffrey S. Mearns said.
Hales has more than 25 years’ financial experience at the Cincinnati-based E.W. Scripps Co. His most recent role was vice president for finance, newspapers division. He is a certified public accountant and a graduate of NKU, where he received an accounting degree in 1987.
“I am happy to join the university from which I graduated 28 years ago and help contribute to its success,” Hales said. “Being part of a university with such a worthwhile mission of providing student-centered education makes this a dream job for me.”
The position of chief financial officer was created last spring in a restructuring of the university’s administration and finance division. Hales will oversee the budget office and university comptroller.
From NKU