Nichols Academy

More Than a Leadership Title

Mary V. Jordan Center

Nichols Academy is a year-long leadership development program for ETSU students. As a member, you'll be part of a cohort that learns together, meets university and community leaders, explores opportunities across ETSU, and practices the skills and habits that strong leaders develop over time.

You don't need to already think of yourself as a leader. You don't need to have a title, hold an office, or be the person who always speaks first.

You do need to be willing to show up, participate, try new things, and grow.

What You Can Expect from Nichols

Access to People and Ideas

Through Barbershop Conversations and other Nichols experiences, you'll have opportunities to meet and talk with university, professional, and community leaders. These aren't just speeches. You'll have opportunities to ask questions, join the conversation, and learn from their experiences.

A Community

You'll spend the year with a cohort of other ETSU students. You'll get to know one another, share experiences, learn together, and help build the kind of Nichols community you want to be part of.

Opportunities to Grow

You'll have opportunities to practice communication, responsibility, professionalism, confidence, and leadership. Some will happen within Nichols. Others will get you out into ETSU to discover what the university has to offer.

Opportunities to Lead

You don't need an officer title to lead in Nichols. Members will have opportunities to host, introduce speakers, organize, welcome, recruit, facilitate, plan, represent Nichols, and help make things happen.
As you become more involved, you'll have opportunities to take on greater responsibility and help shape the future of the Academy.

A Reason to Explore

College is about more than completing the classes required for your degree. Nichols will introduce you to people, ideas, events, resources, and experiences that may have nothing to do with your major but may change the way you think.

Strong leaders keep learning. We want Nichols members to stay curious.

What Nichols Expects from You

  • Show Up

    Being a Nichols member means being present. This isn't something you join just to put on your résumé.

  • Follow Through

    If you say you'll do something, do it. Your fellow members should be able to depend on you.

  • Participate

    Ask questions. Join conversations. Engage with speakers. Take part in activities. Contribute to the group.
    You don't have to be an extrovert, but you do have to be involved.

  • Be Curious

    Listen to people whose experiences are different from yours. Ask questions when you don't know something.Explore ideas and opportunities outside your usual interests.

  • Try Things

    Some Nichols experiences may be unfamiliar or outside your comfort zone. Give them a chance. Growth usually requires doing something you haven't done before.

  • Contribute

    Nichols isn't something that happens to you. Members help make Nichols happen.That means helping with programs, supporting other members, volunteering when you can, and taking responsibility when opportunities arise.

  • Reflect and Grow

    Pay attention to what you're learning about leadership and about yourself. Notice your strengths. Recognize where you need to grow. Learn from what works, what doesn't, and the people you meet along the way.

What Does Leadership Look Like in Nichols?

Strong leaders recognize what they don't know. They remain curious. They seek out new perspectives and experiences. They listen to and learn from other people. They adapt when new information challenges what they thought they knew.

And they keep growing.

That's what Nichols Academy asks its members to practice.