As we celebrate Black History Month in February, The Northerner sat down with two unique NKU professors who have different backgrounds, expertise and paths to success. In these conversations, Dr. Vanessa Hunn and Dr. David Childs shared about their lives, legacies and the importance of diversity on campus. 

Dr. Vanessa Hunn, College of Health and Human Services associate dean

Lexington, Ky native Dr. Vanessa Hunn has been involved in the social work community for the larger part of her life.

To Hunn, being able to help individuals going through some of the most difficult parts of their lives is fulfilling. She spent many years working with pregnant and parenting teens in the hospital at the University of Kentucky, as well as helping young women transition from welfare to work.

“That was a very fulfilling role because it’s very impactful to help vulnerable populations move forward and help empower them,” Hunn said.

She spent 20 years as a social worker before diving into the depths of teaching.

Hunn had her first teaching experience at the University of Kentucky while she worked toward her doctorate degree in social work. After teaching an array of courses in Lexington, she wound up at the University of Southern Indiana as a full-time professor.

It was while Hunn was in Indiana that she had her first international experience, traveling to Egypt with faculty members from a multitude of universities. An Egyptian professor at the University of Southern Indiana invited Hunn to come along for an opportunity to share research and see the world.

“It really got me thinking… that people—regardless of what side of the Earth they are on—we have a lot in common,” Hunn said.

A few years later, a former colleague from Hunn’s days at UK called to recruit her to Northern Kentucky University. Because of her confidence in the colleague, Hunn took up the offer and applied to become a professor at NKU. She recalled the warm, welcoming energy of the campus.

“The experience that I had with my interview was resonating in a way that said, ‘This is the next place for me,’” Hunn said.

Over the last nearly 15 years, Hunn has seen the university grow—and has grown in her position.

She began as an assistant professor in 2010, then advanced to the director of the Master of Social Work program. Currently, Hunn serves as the associate dean of the College of Health and Human Services.

Something that has stood out to the associate dean is seeing the way NKU has branded itself and found its niche in a region full of competing universities.

“I think NKU does a really good job about branding itself as a small, user-friendly university where students have that one-on-one relationship with their faculty,” Hunn said.

The associate dean said she makes an effort to keep her foot in the door of teaching since that is where her passion lies. As an administrator, she doesn’t get the same opportunities to teach as she used to. 

For the last several years, Hunn has taught the dissertation research course for students in the educational leadership doctorate program. This has given her the opportunity to branch outside of social work and collaborate with doctorate students.

Throughout her years at NKU, one of her all-time favorite courses to teach was about society and cyberbullying, a course Hunn actually developed herself. The course became so popular that she was even featured on television to explain her research and findings about cyberbullying. 

Looking at her role in higher education, Hunn is one of very few Black women in professor or administrator roles. Nearly five years ago, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that Black women made up 2.1% of tenured professors at public and private universities in the United States.

At NKU, 6.5% of full-time faculty members were Black, according to the 2024 Faculty & Staff Reports.

“We know from research that student success in the college level is directly tied to representation, so students are more successful if they get to see faculty and experience relationships with faculty who look like them,” Hunn said. “That’s for every student.”

The associate dean said she has done work and research related to how to retain students of color. In her daily life, she seeks to be that representation for students and other faculty members.

“As a Black female, I have a different perspective because my lived experiences are different… Many times it can be a very unique perspective, but it can also be a very common lived experience of other students of color who are coming to campus,” Hunn said.

Dr. David Childs, Black studies program director and associate professor

Dr. David Childs currently works as the director of the Black studies program and a professor of social studies, history and Black studies. But his journey to reach that point was filled with unique opportunities and difficult hardships.

Growing up in the inner city outside of Cincinnati with eight siblings, Childs spoke about his “humble beginnings.”

“I experienced housing insecurity, so I was homeless as a youth,” Childs said. “For me to be at the level I’m at as a professor is… a blessing.”

At times growing up, there was no electricity. Or water. Or food to eat.

Many people associate homelessness with mental illness or addiction, Childs said, but he did not experience either of those. In his experience, he just didn’t have the right resources or wealth to make ends meet. 

But he found a way to improve his situation: enrolling in college.

Now, Childs holds one bachelor’s, two master’s and two doctorate degrees.

“I’m one of those individuals that can say, ‘Education worked for me,’” the professor said.

While Childs has been a professor at NKU for 14 years, teaching is not his only passion. He also defined himself as a pastor, artist, researcher, filmmaker, author, husband and “girl dad.” 

His career began as an artist—painting specifically. Childs said his style is more like that of Vincent Van Gogh, one of his personal heroes. Childs was able to see some of Van Gogh’s work up close when he visited the Louvre Museum in Paris, France on one of his travel expeditions.

Traveling is another huge passion for Childs, who has visited London, Germany, Mexico, Spain, Africa and many other places.

“It’s through just my research and my love of history, people have invited me to go places,” he explained.

Childs was inspired to become a teacher by some of his professors in grad school. He began teaching middle and high schoolers, and his wife is a Spanish teacher today.

Through his research in his master’s and doctoral programs, Childs found his specialties in history, education and diversity, equity and inclusion. He had his first higher education teaching experience at Central State University in Ohio, the only public Historically Black University in the state.

When Childs and his wife (who is an NKU alum) saw an opening come up at NKU, which would be closer to home, he jumped on it.

“It’s been life changing. It’s been absolutely life changing,” Childs said. “We’re an NKU family.”

Childs’ research and expertise in topics like African American spirituals and the Underground Railroad have given him opportunities across the world. He presented his research on Black spiritual music last year at the Smithsonian Institute and has also collaborated with National Geographic.

The professor also talked about the importance of representation in higher education. In a climate where diversity has become politically charged, people need to remember why diversity is valuable, Childs said.

“What people miss is there’s value in diversity, we learn with diversity,” he said.

Childs recalled a few years ago when NKU saw an influx of Saudi Arabian international students. The professor admitted he had not had much previous interaction with students from Saudi Arabia, so having them in his class helped him to learn even more.

For his wife, who is the only Black teacher at her school, she has become a role model and hero to the students of color. Childs has experienced a similar situation at NKU.

“People see me—a young Black boy from the projects that was homeless—as a doctor,” Childs said. “You can’t really put that into words.”

Going forward, the professor said that increasing student enrollment of diverse populations should start with increasing the diversity of faculty and staff.

“We miss out if everybody looks like us in the same classroom… Diversity makes us smarter, makes us better. People don’t get that,” Childs said. “They just are distracted by the politics of it.”