Laurie Nichols is an American academic administrator serving as the 11th president at Black Hills State University. Nichols previously served as the 27th president of the University of Wyoming.

Laurie Stenberg Nichols
11th President of Black Hills State University
Assumed office
July 1, 2019
Preceded byTom Jackson Jr.
27th President of the University of Wyoming
In office
May 16, 2016 – June 30, 2019
Succeeded byEdward Seidel
Personal details
BornColman, South Dakota, U.S.
SpouseTim Nichols
Children2
EducationSouth Dakota State University (BS)
Colorado State University (MEd)
Ohio State University (PhD)

Early life and education edit

Nichols was born in Colman, South Dakota.[1] She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from South Dakota State University in 1978, followed by a master in education from Colorado State University in 1984 and a PhD in family and consumer sciences education from Ohio State University in 1988.[2][3]

Career edit

Nichols began her career at the University of Idaho. She was the dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences at South Dakota State University from 1994 to 2008, and interim president of Northern State University from August 2008 to June 2009. She was the provost and executive vice president for academic affairs at South Dakota State University from 2009 to 2016 and then was appointed president of the University of Wyoming in 2016.[2]

Nichols served as the president of the University of Wyoming from May 16, 2016, to June 30, 2019, when she was abruptly fired by the Wyoming Board of Regents. Nichols has been the subject of an ongoing investigation, which found that Nichols had displayed a pattern of verbal abuse during her tenure at the university.[4] She assumed the presidency of Black Hills State University in 2019,[5] initially on an interim basis. Her appointment as president was confirmed by the South Dakota Board of Regents in December 2019.[5]

Personal life edit

With her husband Tim, Nichols has two daughters.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ "President Laurie Stenberg Nichols". Black Hills State University. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Laurie Nichols, President". University of Wyoming. Retrieved September 28, 2018.
  3. ^ "The Next President of the University of Wyoming". WIA Report. 24 December 2015. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  4. ^ WyoFile, Seth Klamann and Andrew Graham Star-Tribune and (4 February 2020). "Investigation found evidence former UW president yelled at subordinates, documents show". Casper Star-Tribune Online. Retrieved 2020-09-14.
  5. ^ a b "Laurie Stenberg Nichols Named President of Black Hills State University in South Dakota". WIA Report. 26 December 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2020.