Student Services Coordinator
Dr. Nickels joined UTHS in September 2022, and she has 20 years of experience supporting the success of students with unique needs in a variety of settings. She taught in residential treatment centers, charter schools, public schools, and at the community college level. Her previous roles have included teacher, case manager, reading specialist, testing coordinator, program coordinator, curriculum specialist, and curriculum writer. Dr. Nickels holds a Texas principal certification, Master Reading Teacher certification, and several subject/grade level certifications. She has been trained in Culturally Responsive Classroom Management, Applied Behavior Analysis, Wilson Reading Systems, Person-Centered Planning and Restorative Justice. Throughout her years in education, she has advocated for student-centered programming and inclusionary practices. In her work with students, she encourages independent problem solving and goal setting. She enjoys leveraging student strengths to impact academic growth. Dr. Nickels earned her doctoral degree from Texas A& M in Curriculum and Instruction with research focused on transition planning’s impact on post-secondary inclusionary practices. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and walks with her dogs.