Kristi Northcutt

Kristi joined the KU Public Management Center as its director in May 2025. Prior to coming to KU, she served as the City Administrator in Lindsborg, Kansas (2021-2025) and as the Senior Director of Community Relations in Anthem, Arizona (2014-2021).  She has managed large teams of employees in city administration including public affairs, legislative affairs, business development, customer service, special events, conference center management, tourism, public safety, parks & recreation, and public works.  

Prior to her work in Arizona, she was on the team that planted the K-State Olathe campus, the third campus in the Kansas State University family.  

Kristi has led transformative projects in both Kansas and Arizona, most notably a $10M bridge removal project and $3.5M public-private childcare center in Kansas and revamped water rates & water rights for her community after years of debate & negotiation with the state legislature and corporation commission. 

Kristi has Bachelor of Arts degrees in English & Communication from Bethany College (Lindsborg, Kan.), a Master of Liberal Arts in organizational leadership from Baker University (Baldwin City, Kan.), and is a Certified Public Manager with Distinction through the University of Kansas. She’s thinking about getting her PhD in Public Administration.