Dean’s Office Appoints Chief of Staff

FEB 11, 2020 Lorenzo Perez / Senior Writer
Nicole Woods, Chief of Staff in the Office of the Dean

Nicole Woods, who brings more than 20 years of strategic planning experience from the realms of higher education, non-profits and information technology firms, is joining the Dean’s Office as its new Chief of Staff.

Throughout her career, Woods has specialized in diversity and inclusion strategy, strategic planning, organizational strategy, facilitation, change management, and data analytics.

Woods is coming to the College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences from the American Council on Education (ACE), where she served as a director within the higher education membership organization’s learning and engagement division. Before coming to Washington, D.C. in 2013 to work for ACE, Woods spent two years at the University of Chicago, where she worked as director of faculty diversity initiatives in the Office of the Provost.

Her work in higher education, nonprofit, and corporate organizations also includes posts with Mattersight Corporation, YMCA of the USA, Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Bard College.

“Nicole’s depth of experience at leading universities, the American Council on Education, as well as the major projects she’s managed outside of higher education make her a great fit for the day-to-day operations and strategic projects of the Dean’s Office,” said Ian Baucom, Buckner W. Clay Dean of Arts & Sciences. “She’s a great thought partner, and I’m looking forward to having her insight on our key initiatives.”

Woods is completing her doctorate of education at Teachers College, Columbia University. She holds a master’s degree in education from James Madison University and a bachelor of business administration from the College of William and Mary. Woods is scheduled to begin work in the Dean’s Office on Feb. 17.

“The A&S community is advancing an ambitious agenda designed to embolden the essential mission of liberal arts education and research,” Woods said. “As we move through this work together, I am honored to join the team and eager to build a diverse set of relationships to facilitate the collaborative execution of A&S initiatives and Dean Baucom’s priorities.”

A welcome breakfast reception has been scheduled for 9:15 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21 on the fifth floor of New Cabell Hall, outside the Dean’s Office in front of the west elevator.