Toni Nielson

About Toni Nielson

As a tenured Communication Studies professor and award-winning debate coach, I have dedicated my career to teaching and coaching advocacy skills, creating an environment where students succeed, thrive, and feel confident. My most notable award is the Galentine Award for Outstanding Women Coaches. Currently, I am passionate about AI in education and have developed several successful professional development sessions for Higher Education faculty members seeking to integrate AI into their curriculum and curriculum development. Faculty find my professional development sessions useful and engaging. I strive to encourage active use, as well as, discuss the difficult questions about education in the world of AI. As a certificated California mediator, I have volunteered to mediate in small claims court and have a passion for conflict management and socially just advocacy. I am committed to building career skills in young professionals and have a track record of adapting to a wide variety of environments. My previous work as the Executive Director of the Bay Area Urban Debate League provided me with an opportunity to build a variety of nonprofit management skills. Those skills include event planning and management, individual donor fundraising, fundraising campaigns, and executive management of a small organization. Let\'s connect and explore how we can collaborate to make a positive impact in our fields.

Experience

1. Communication Studies Department Coordinator & Professor

   Fullerton College

   Aug 2025 — Present

Education

• College of Eastern Utah

  Associate of Science - AS

  1997 — 1999

• California State University-Fullerton

  Bachelor's Degree

  1999 — 2002

• California State University, Long Beach

  Master of Arts - MA

  2002 — 2005

• Auburn University

  AUAI Explorer Certification

  2024 — 2024