Nicola Blake

About Nicola Blake

Greetings! I’m Dr. Nicola Blake, an accomplished leader with more than 25 years of…

Experience

1. National Fellow

   Complete College America

   Dec 2023 — Present

   Contributes to a national movement to increase college completion rates and close institutional performance gaps by advocating for effective structural reforms and equitable policies: • Collaborates with states, systems, institutions, and partners to scale highly effective structural reforms• Promotes policies that improve student success, ensuring equal opportunities for all students regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or familial educational achievement• Engages with policymakers and higher education leaders to shift policy, perspective, and practice for lasting, equitable change • Advocates for tailored, supportive pathways to graduation that address the unique needs of Black, Latinx, low-income, adult, and first-generation students• Utilizes data to identify best practices and advance policies that support marginalized and minoritized students• Works with forward-thinking higher education leaders to implement practices that foster equitable outcomes • Represents the lived experiences of marginalized and minoritized students, bringing a unique perspective to CCA’s initiatives• Serves on a team of courageous leaders dedicated to transforming higher education to better support all students• Engages in public speaking, workshops, and conferences to promote CCA’s mission and share successful strategies for increasing college completion rates

Education

• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick

  MA

  2000 — 2004

• Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey-New Brunswick

  Ph.D.

  2004 — 2011

• City University of New York City College

  BA

  1996 — 2000

Skills

• Teaching
• Curriculum Development
• Curriculum Design
• Higher Education
• University Teaching
• Lecturing
• Research
• E-Learning
• Literature
• Public Speaking
• Academic Administration
• Adult Education
• Grant Writing
• Program Development
• Program Management
• Student Development
• Student Retention
• Policy Analysis
• Project Coordination
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Cross-Functional Coordination
• Higher Education Administration
• Higher Education Policy
• Higher Education Research
• Higher Education Accreditation
• Higher Education Leadership
• Emergent Curriculum
• Curriculum Mapping
• Curriculum Innovation