Nicole M. West, PhD

I have been described by colleagues as a “Black feminist scholar-pracademic—a critically engaged researcher with a great mixture of administrative and academic talent…who is unapologetically pro-Black women” (West, 2021, p. 8).

My 20+ years of professional experience in postsecondary education includes administrative appointments in residence life, undergraduate admissions, multicultural education, faculty development, and global/international education; instructional roles in academic foundations, leadership studies, student affairs, and higher education administration; and scholarship and professional service broadly focused on Black women in higher education.

Here is a little more about me according to the "experts"...

MBTI: INFJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging)

DiSC: High C(onscientiousness), Moderate S(teadiness)

StrengthsQuest: Strategic, Activator, Communication, Command, & Connectedness

LPI: Inspiring a Shared Vision

But wait, there's more! I'm a published author of several riveting scholarly research articles. (Wait, can I use those words in the same sentence??) My primary contribution to the literature about Black women in higher education is coining the concept of “professional counterspaces, which are intentionally designed, culturally affirming professional development experience[s] that directly [contribute] to the personal well-being and professional success of individuals from underrepresented cultural groups; by virtue of their purpose, professional counterspaces should be conceived of and facilitated by and for members of the groups they intend to support” (West, 2019, p. 162).

Dream job: Professional tennis player🎾

Side hustle: N.Vision Graphic Design & Consulting LLC

Unique talent: Running a 32-channel mixing board

Precious moments: Fostering twins👧🏽❤️👧🏽

BGLO affiliation: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. (Yes, the VPOTUS is my sorority sister!)💕💚

References

West, N. M.(2021). Embodying Black feminist epistemology to make green grass grow: The transition from administrator to academic for a Black woman in student affairs. The Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Advance online publication.

West, N. M.(2019). By us, for us: The impact of a professional counterspace on African American women in student affairs. Journal of Negro Education, 88(2), 159-180.

Check out my MSU profile page!