My name is Nikki and I use she/her pronouns. I am a first-year Ethnic Studies MA student in the Department of Race, Gender, and Ethnic Studies at Colorado State University. I earned my B.S. in Kinesiology with a specialization in Health Promotion from Michigan State University in 2003 and completed my K–12 Science and Health teacher licensure at Colorado State University in 2010. Since 2011, I have served as a full-time academic advisor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability within the Warner College of Natural Resources at CSU.

My interest in Race, Gender, and Ethnic Studies developed through both personal and professional experiences during my time as an advisor. Engagement with campus committees that support marginalized and historically excluded identities, along with my local volunteer work and passion for student success, has deepened my commitment to fostering inclusion and equity in higher education.

My research interests focus on anti-Black racism in the United States and the rise of antisemitism on college campuses. I am particularly interested in how university communities can address antisemitism and promote campus safety and belonging. Additionally, I hope to explore the decolonization of the history of enslavement in the U.S. through comparative frameworks informed by post–World War II Holocaust reconciliation and the intergenerational trauma within the Jewish diaspora.

After completing my degree, I hope to continue advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at CSU, taking on a more active role in diversity education and campus development.

Outside of my academic work, I enjoy spending time with my two children, attending live music events, traveling abroad, boxing, paddleboarding, and horseback riding.