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The Department of Biological Sciences lost one of its most dedicated and well-respected faculty members Tuesday, Oct. 27th. Rob Kues earned both his bachelor's and master's degrees from NKU with a focus on secondary education.

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He taught science at Holy Cross High School for 25 years and coached the basketball team for 10 years. He also served as the school's Technology Coordinator. Rob joined the NKU faculty in 1998 and became a full-time lecturer, helping to coordinate Human Anatomy & Physiology lectures and labs.

He reached hundreds of students every year, and the most frequent sight before the pandemic was a wide open office door with at least one student being mentored, coached and supported toward success in the highly demanding and rigorous courses.  

"While this is only my second semester at NKU since transferring, he is by far the best professor I had here. You could tell he was brilliant when it came to the knowledge of the body. You could also tell he had a passion to share it with us, and make sure we understood as well as he did. He took time to make sure all of our questions were answered, and made sure to answer them in a way that would not belittle or condescend us.  I just wanted to express to you how amazing of a professor he was, as I am sure you were already proud of him to begin with," wrote Madison Butcher.

"Professor Kues was the best instructor I have ever had in my time at NKU. He sincerely enjoyed teaching. He was a phenomenal role model and helped me overcome a few obstacles in my time here at NKU," recalled Sawyer Ezell.

"He loved teaching and inspiring his students. It was his true calling," said Department Chair Dr. Erin Strome. "Rob will be greatly  missed."

Arts & Sciences Dean Diana McGill offered her condolences to the department in an email message "I don’t have adequate words to express my sadness for you, for Rob’s family, for his students – everyone.   Whenever a department loses someone so dear, so suddenly, it brings such unimaginable pain."

NKU President Ashish Vaidya echoed those sentiments in announcing the news to the campus community. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Molly– his partner of more than 20 years, his family and friends. "

Rob was buried Nov. 4th following a Mass of Christian Burial at St. Thomas Church in Fort Thomas, KY. His memory card included the following poem:

"I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one.

I'd like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done.

I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways

Of happy times and laughing times and bright and sunny days."