Ashish Vaidya
Former Senior Fellow
AASCU
Ashish Vaidya was president of Northern Kentucky University (NKU) from 2018 to 2022. Vaidya was responsible for championing the university’s mission and core values, charting an adventurous course, and communicating the strategic priorities clearly with internal and external stakeholders. Before joining NKU, Vaidya served a two-year term as interim president of St. Cloud State University (MN). As interim president, he served as the campus CEO and oversaw all operations and the university’s strategic direction. Prior to his tenure as interim president at St. Cloud State University, he served as the university’s provost and vice president for academic affairs. Vaidya also served at two different campuses in the California State University system, where his last appointed role was special advisor to the president for regional economic development at California State University, Los Angeles. From 2010 to 2014, he served as the California State University, Los Angeles provost and vice president for academic affairs. Prior to his tenure there, he was dean of faculty at California State University Channel Islands, where he helped build a new institution from the ground up.