Dr. Keegan Nichols, vice president for student affairs at Arkansas Tech University, was selected to speak at the 2019 conference of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators.
Nichols offered a presentation entitled “Grit: Lessons I’ve Learned as a Young(ish) Widow” on Tuesday, March 12, at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
During her remarks, Nichols used the lessons she learned from her late husband, Jimmy Nichols, and the grieving process that followed his passing in December 2017 as a framework for the grit and resiliency necessary for student success and achievement by student affairs professionals.
Nichols joined ATU as its vice president for student affairs on June 26, 2017. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Education degree from the University of Central Arkansas, a Master of Science degree in college administration from the University of Central Missouri and a Doctor of Education degree in adult and higher education from Northern Illinois University.
In addition to her speaking engagement, research performed by Nichols and Dr. Brett Bruner, dean of student engagement at ATU, was included in the knowledge community publication that was shared with all individuals attending the 2019 NASPA Conference.
Their paper, “The Perceived Role of Parents and Family Members of First-Generation College Students On Transition,” appears on pages 61-64 of the publication.
Access the 2019 NASPA Conference knowledge community publication.L
