Cassandre Collins joined the NKU Entrepreneurship Institute in October 2007 as the Innovation Center Director. Originally from South Florida but lived 10 years in Chattanooga, TN where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance from University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. She then earned her MBA from Northern Kentucky University in December 2007, where she is now an adjunct professor for the Department of Economics and Finance at NKU.

Prior to joining the Innovation Network, Cassandre held various finance and accounting positions in the health care, homebuilding, constructions and information technology industries. In addition, Cassandre and her husband have started two small companies of their own. One they were able to successfully sell when they moved from Tennessee and the other they currently own.