Duncan leaves for post at UC

The position is posted on the NKU website and the search is underway for a new leader in the Office of University Housing.

Todd Duncan, current director of Residential Life, has officially resigned and will leave NKU on April 1 to begin a new phase of his career as Director of Housing and Dining at the University of Cincinnati.

“Dining will be a new responsibility and I won’t have the residential life aspect,” Duncan said. Other duties will be similar to those at NKU – facilities management, budget, and expansion and renovation projects – but on a much larger scale.

Duncan joined NKU April 9, 2001 and said that until four months ago, he hadn’t given a thought to leaving. However, when the opportunity with UC arose, it was hard to pass up. “Northern is a great place to work…I love it here,” he said, but added that “this is a unique situation – to have an opportunity to further my career in a larger system without having to move my family.”

Sheila Murray, assistant director of Residential Life, agreed that this is a wonderful opportunity for Duncan and his family. While she expressed regret at seeing Duncan leave, Murray expects operations to run smoothly while the search is on for a new director. “Most of the major decisions have been taken care of,” she said.

Murray will work closely with Dean Kent Kelso to fulfill the duties of the director during the interim. She said the university hopes to fill the position after other universities have closed operations for the school year – probably in May or June.

Jen Rison, Norse Hall RA and junior sociology major, said Duncan would be leaving Residential Life in good condition. “He kept things organized, so Sheila (Murray) should be able to handle things in the interim.”

As for Duncan’s replacement, Rison said she hopes for an energetic individual with new ideas. “We are a growing campus…we need people with open minds and new ideas,” Rison said.