Dr. Keegan Nichols was named Vice President for Student Affairs at Arkansas Tech University in June 2017. She oversees the following areas that provide support and services to students: Campus Life (Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Government Association, Orientation, Leadership, and Community Service); Town and Gown Relations; Public Safety (Emergency Management & Police); International Student Services; Diversity and Inclusion; Student Conduct; Title IX; Residence Life; and Student Wellness (Counseling, Nursing, Disability Services, & Testing).
Dr. Nichols is known around campus for her dedication and support to all students which is evident in the national, regional, and local awards she received. Students nominated, and Dr. Nichols received, Sigma Phi Epsilon Outstanding Staff Member of the Year; the National Association Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Undergraduate Fellows (NUFP) Outstanding Support Award, and the National Association Campus Activities (NACA) Frank Harris Outstanding Student Government Advisor Award.
Professionally, Dr. Nichols is committed to helping the profession. She currently serves as on the board of the Arkansas Student Affairs Association, as a Higher Learning Commission Peer Reviewer, National Panhellenic Area Advisor, and NASPA Region IV-W 2018-19 Professional Standards Chair. Dr. Nichols has co-authored articles including, “People’s passions are contagious: Peer-Mentoring experiences of student affairs professionals in the assessment college team project,” “Midlevel managers supervisory learning journeys,” “Midlevel managers’ use of learning,” “Accepting being poz: The incorporation of the HIV identity into the self”, and “Watching from the margins: Graduate students in the student affairs paradigm.”
A native of Arkansas, Dr. Nichols received her Doctorate of Education from Northern Illinois University. Her dissertation was entitled “Learning to Supervise: Mid-level Managers’ Individual Learning Journeys.” Dr. Nichols studied at the University of Central Missouri to receive her Master of Science in Student Personnel Administration degree. She received her Bachelor of Science in Special Education from the University of Central Arkansas. Dr. Nichols enjoys spending time with family, spending time outdoors, and traveling.
