Template for ELHS Classmate Life History and Information Sharing
See earlier obituary with news
See enlightening article re Jim's effect
See Jim's 2016 autobiography video
Personal Information:
· Name when in high school yearbook: Jim Votruba
· High school nickname:
· Legal name today (if different):
· What do people call you now? :
· Address (please provide at least a city and state): 2660 Shaker, Lakeside Park, Ky 41017
· Email contact: Votruba@nku.edu
· Phone number (if you want): 859-331-4289
Current life situation (retired working, volunteering, etc.):
President Emeritus and Professor of Educational Leadership, Northern Kentucky University
Family history (spouse, children, dogs, etc.) :
Married to Rachel for 43 years. Three children, Chris, Elizabeth, and Emily. Six grandchildren, Anthony, James, Thomas, Nicholas, Dominic, and Lilly. Two dogs, Traverse Bay and Dogger. We currently live in the Cincinnati area but spend time in Park City, Utah, and at our summer home in Petoskey, Michigan.
Current hobbies and interests:
Over the past thirty-five years, my work has occupied a significant amount of my time…a hobby of sorts. Rachel and I lead active lives and are avid skiers, hikers, and travelers. We are both active in the community and I serve on a variety of corporate, hospital, and nonprofit boards. While retired as president, I continue to write, teach, and consult in the general field of higher education.
Claims to fame (books, awards, etc):
Over the years, I’ve received a variety of awards and written several books that only university policy wonks would find interesting. Of greater significance is that I twice threw out the opening pitch for the Cincinnati Reds. I would only add that, upon retirement as president, the university’s new student union was named in our honor.
Anything else you want to share:
When I was finishing my Ph.D. at Michigan State, then president Clifton R. Wharton advised me to find something that I believed was important to do, that I loved to do, and then throw myself into it and my career would take care of itself. He was right and I’ve spent most of the past forty years immersed in work that I felt was important and that I loved. In the process, we have built a life of purpose with lots of fun along the way. I still exercise regularly which includes running….but not at the pace of our EL days.
Education, Military Service or Training After ELHS:
· BA in political science, MA in political science and sociology, and Ph.D. in higher education, all from Michigan State University.
Work History (dates, company name, location, title/job function):
· 1997-2012 President, Northern Kentucky University (located in greater Cincinnati region)
· 1989-1997 Vice Provost and Professor of Higher Education, Michigan State University
· 1983-1987 Dean of Education and Human Development, Binghamton University in NY.
· 1974-1983 Administrator and faculty member at University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.