HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. — Northern Kentucky University athletics is excited to announce new hires in academics and development, as Dominic Toledo & Lauren Piening-Estael have joined the Norse. 

Lauren Piening-Estael will serve as the Assistant Director of Development, while Dominic Toledo will serve as an Academic Advisor within athletics. 

Piening-Estael, an NKU Hall of Famer, returns to Highland Heights as the Assistant Director of Development. Prior to her return, Piening served as the Development Director at the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati for over four years. She began her time at the YMCA in May of 2017 as a Member Engagement Specialist before moving up to Senior Program Director for Membership and Wellness and finally ending as the Development Director. 

Piening-Estael was a highly successful student-athlete during her time at NKU. She was a four year starting goalkeeper for the program, and led her team to four GLVC Conference Tournaments (1998, 1999, 2000, 2004), 3 GLVC Championships (1998, 1999, 2000), and three NCAA appearances (1999, 2000, 2004), including a Final Four appearance in 1999 and a national championship appearance in 2000. Lauren was named to the all-conference team all four years, all-region team three years, and earned Third Team All-American honors in 2000.  With the help of a strong offense and indestructible defense, she set the NCAA Division II record for most shutouts with 16 in 1999, and is tied for fourth in the NCAA Division II record books for single season shutouts (16) and is fourth in career shutouts (46). 

Dominic Toledo comes to Highland Heights after a 5 year swim career at the University of Pittsburgh where he was an 18 time ACC conference championship finalist and active in SAAC. He is eager to build upon the foundation NKU's Academic staff have put in place and will round out the year in a supporting role before taking over his own teams next academic year.

Toledo received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Pitt in 2024.